The 28-year-old is relatively new to the world of art – a keen hobby artist for many years, Salmon took a leap of faith and started her own art business two years ago, finally quitting her full-time job with the Australian Taxation Office about six months ago to concentrate solely on art.

But the talented and enthusiastic artist has quickly attracted a strong following – she has been commissioned to create artwork for pop superstars Lorde and Olivia Rodrigo, she has amassed more than 20,000 followers and 2 million likes on TikTok, she’s about to begin working on major murals in both Hobart and Launceston and she’s earning a reputation as an impressive live painter for weddings and corporate events.

The proud Wiradjuri woman, who has both Aboriginal and Tongan heritage, has also used her platform to help raise awareness about Indigenous rights, using art to explore her own Aboriginal identity and culture and share stories of others who have endured racism and abuse in a bid to spark debate and promote change.

And the Victorian-born artist, who now lives on the outskirts of Hobart, says all these amazing opportunities may never have eventuated if she hadn’t unexpectedly moved to lutruwita/Tasmania five years ago.

Salmon actually came to the state for a Christmas holiday to visit her mum, her sister and her nieces and nephews who live in Hobart. Then the pandemic hit, and borders closed, and she got stuck here.

But, Salmon says, it was the best thing that could have happened as she absolutely loves living in Tasmania.

“I’d always wanted to move here,’’ she explains. “But I had different jobs over the years and I couldn’t really leave. But then I was forced to stay here (due to the pandemic) – I came for a holiday and never went back … I think everything happens for a reason.’’

And it was after moving to Tasmania that Salmon decided to get serious about art.

“I was creating art as a hobby, but I never really took it too seriously,’’ she says.

“I was like a lot of people – when lockdowns happened it just kind of forced you to go back to your hobbies. And one day my partner said ‘Why don’t you give it a go, and be serious about it’. And the rest is history, I haven’t stopped creating since.’’

Initially, Salmon continued to work in her government day job, coming home and creating art for four hours each evening, in a bid to build her business and her portfolio. She says ditching her full-time job in the middle of last year to solely pursue art was a scary leap – particularly as she was also adjusting to life as a new parent after welcoming daughter Ember, now 18 months old, to the world. But it’s a career move she’s thankful to have made.

“I was mindful of the whole stereotype of the starving artist,’’ Salmon says.

“And the rising cost of living brings an added level of pressure. But it has been so good.’’

Visitors to Hobart Airport may have seen Salmon doing live painting sessions throughout 2023 and 2024, which resulted in two of her paintings being permanently added to the airport’s art collection. She is about to begin transforming a blank wall in Wellington Court – in Hobart’s CBD – with a bold mural, acting as a mentor to recent art school graduate Phoebe Diggle, who will collaborate on the project. A mural in Launceston is also in the pipeline, and Salmon has also been wowing wedding guests as her work as a live wedding painter grows in popularity.

She had noticed that live wedding painters were popular at interstate weddings and saw a gap in the market in Tassie, where the service is not so common.

Salmon attends a wedding, takes a few photos of the newly-married couple on their big day as a basis for her painting, and then spends several hours painting during the wedding reception, with guests able to watch her work and check on the progress of the painting as the night unfolds.

She then takes the painting back to her studio for some finishing touches, before presenting it to the married couple as a unique keepsake of their special day.

“A lot of people haven’t seen oil painting in real life, being done in front of them,’’ she explains.

“So it’s quite intriguing for people … it’s almost like a performance.’’

Some artists would baulk at the idea of being under the watchful eye of onlookers while they work, but Salmon loves the challenge of speed painting and also enjoys interacting with those around her as her painting unfolds.

Salmon initially taught herself how to paint by watching YouTube tutorials, before graduating from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Creative Arts. She is due to complete a Master of Fine Art at Monash University, in July, with plans to start studying for her PhD in January next year, with a focus on representation and the way Aboriginal people have been portrayed through art.

Salmon was previously employed interstate as a legal support worker and once considered becoming a lawyer, but realised after her first year of studying law at university that it wasn’t the right degree for her. She instead uses her art as a platform to advocate for Indigenous rights, exploring her own identity and culture through art and painting portraits of Indigenous Australians – including those who have died in custody, or have been subject to racism and bullying – in a bid to provide comfort to grieving families while also raising public awareness.

“If a super important issue comes up, and it’s something that resonates with me, I’ll see if there’s any way I can help through a painting,’’ explains Salmon, who often shares time-lapse videos of her paintings on social media so followers can watch her creations unfold and learn the story behind each piece of art. Even painting in oil – Salmon’s medium of choice – is intended to be symbolic as she feels she’s defying stereotypes by painting in a medium traditionally steeped in status.

“Oil painting, to me – growing up, I thought only rich people did that,’’ she explains.

“It was something I never saw growing up. I taught myself to do oil painting, and I love the decision to bring it into Aboriginal culture somehow. I was always told I was supposed to just do dot paintings, which is a massive stereotype – and (dot painting) doesn’t even come from my mob, anyway.’’

Salmon never imagined when she embarked on an art career that her work would soon be hanging in the homes of global celebrities, catapulting her name – and her artwork – on to the international stage.

She was commissioned by Universal Music Group to produce an artwork that was gifted to New Zealand pop superstar Lorde when she came to Sydney to perform in 2023.

The painting, which featured bright blues of the ocean and other natural elements, was designed to honour Lorde’s album Solar Power while also celebrating Salmon’s connection to Country.

Salmon wrote a letter for Lorde with the painting, describing her work – talking about where she grew up and her connection to Country. Salmon later received word from Universal Music Group letting her know that Lorde loved the painting and “it meant a lot to her”.

Salmon was more recently commissioned to produce an artwork for American singer and actor Olivia Rodrigo, again catapulting her name – and her work – on to the international stage.

She painted the Great Barrier Reef, “in an impressionist style” using Rodrigo’s signature colour – purple.

Rodrigo apparently loved it, as she’d been needing art for the home she recently purchased.

Salmon described the high-profile commission as a “pinch-me moment” and said 2024 was a “whirlwind” that made her excited for what 2025 has in store.

Salmon paints from a home studio in Granton, and enjoys harvesting fruit and vegies from her thriving garden or heading out on evening adventures to see bioluminescence when she’s not making art.

She’s also enjoying life as a mum, and finds the flexibility of an art career works well with being a parent, while also enabling her to keep doing something she enjoys outside of parenthood.

As well as accepting public and private commissions, Salmon sells fine art prints online (and at Artosaurus in Moonah) and showcases her art on mugs, cards, tote bags and stickers.

Salmon also offers free business mentoring sessions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists through First Nations business support organisation Ngarrimili.

Whether she’s painting a large-scale mural, crafting a live wedding portrait or advocating for Indigenous rights through art, Salmon says she enjoys the power of art and the connections it creates.

“I love it, I want to do it forever, I want to try and make it work,’’ Salmon says of her art career.

And she has the following advice for others who might be considering pursuing a dream of their own.

“You don't have to have it all figured out,’’ Salmon says.

“You don't have to be perfect. You just have to take that first step, even if you’re scared. Take the risk … you never know where it might lead.’’•

Learn more about Brandi Salmon’s art journey at brandisalmonart.com.au or follow her on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.