Rex Greeno: Memories Through Sea Stories

“Our people have been here for 50,000 years. They had a family life, they lived in communes, they worked together, they met together, they hunted together and that’s how I depicted my drawings." – Rex Greeno

Rex Greeno: Memories Through Sea Stories was exhibited across three partner institutions between August 2024 – April 2025.

Rex Greeno (1942 – 2025) was an esteemed Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, artist, fisherman and family man - artist and maker of tuylini, ninga and pyerre (Tasmanian Aboriginal bark and reed canoes).

Rex’s work tells a story of deep connection to culture, family and the sea.

Inspired by his life experience as a commercial fisherman for many decades Rex Greeno: Memories through Sea Stories shared his latest work - more than 60  drawings featuring life on and by the sea since the early 1800s, alongside Rex’s passion for traditional Tasmanian Aboriginal watercraft.

This exhibition featured canoes made by Rex, alongside those by his son Dean, and grandson, Harrison. Rex was always committed to the sharing of Ancestral knowledge and passing skills across generations.

Rex was born and raised on Flinders Island, off north east Lutruwita/Tasmania.

His canoes are held in a number of public and private collections throughout Australia, including national and state museums.

The entire series of drawings that featured in Rex Greeno: Memories Through Sea Stories, exhibited between the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Devonport Regional Gallery and the University of Tasmania,  Launceston campus, were acquired in 2025 by the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Exhibitions Catalogue

Accompanying the exhibition is a catalogue featuring essays, poetry and family oral histories written by Rex Greeno’s family and friends. The catalogue is currently available for pre-order in the TMAG online store.