ART, ENTERPRISE AND ANCESTRY:
How Delvene Cockatoo-Collins built a business rooted in culture and connection
When artist and entrepreneur Delvene Cockatoo-Collins speaks about her business, she doesn’t talk in terms of expansion plans or market share. She talks about integrity, connection and storytelling – the threads that bind her creative practice, her family enterprise and her role as an advocate for First Nations business on the global stage.
A proud Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Delvene has built a multifaceted business that spans art, design, retail, tourism and cultural consultancy.
Her work is recognised across Australia and abroad, from her designs for the 2018 Commonwealth Games medals and 30-metre Migalu whale that featured in the Opening Ceremony, to the Brisbane Broncos’ Indigenous jerseys; the artwork featured in Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal and Brisbane’s International Cruise Terminal; and most recently, her gallery in Brisbane’s CBD.
At Brisbane Business Hub’s latest On The Couch event, she shared how she’s turned creativity into a sustainable enterprise without losing sight of her values.
Grow slow and say no
Despite her success, Delvene has never been one to chase growth for growth’s sake. She describes her philosophy of “growing slowly” as a deliberate way to keep her practice authentic and manageable.
“For me, growth is about asking, ‘Can I afford it? Am I comfortable? Is my work wanted in those spaces?’” she explained. “I’ve been able to go into spaces where my work is invited and accepted, and I’ve made sure to keep my integrity.”
That integrity often means saying no – whether that’s to partnerships that don’t align with her values, to opportunities that would require outsourcing her process, or to rapid expansion that could compromise her creative control.
“Keeping it small-scale is part of my scaling process,” she said. “Saying no to the things that take me away from my value system has been important.”
Despite her preference for measured growth, Delvene’s collaborations have connected her to some of Brisbane’s most respected institutions and global brands. Her partnerships with the likes of Museum of Brisbane, Hyatt, Dogstar and the Brisbane Broncos have allowed her to share her work with wider audiences while maintaining authenticity.
She credits Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) with helping to foster those connections. “Coming out of COVID, BEDA built relationships with industry and helped businesses like mine present to domestic tourism partners,” she said. “That’s how I met the team from Hyatt. It wasn’t overnight – it took 12 months of building trust – but it led to a beautiful collaboration where First Nations art now features in each of the 292 rooms throughout their Brisbane hotel.”
For Delvene, these relationships have to be built on shared respect and trust. “Who are the partners? Who’s your network?” she said. “Having great people around you is key. Working with Dogstar, for example, has been an absolute joy – the translation of my work has stayed true to what I’d want if it were made by my own hand.”
A creative lineage
Delvene’s creativity is deeply rooted in her family’s history and connection to Country. Much of her artwork draws on the weaving traditions of her grandmother and great-grandmother, whose baskets have been preserved in museums across Queensland.
She recalled one such piece – a 110-year-old basket created by her grandmother’s grandmother – as a pivotal link between past and present. That connection inspired her ‘We Are the Matriarchy’ T-shirt design for Venus Williams’ EleVen #PrivilegeTaxCampaign, which explored global inequalities in pay and opportunity.
“On our island, our people were the first to protest for equal wages,” she said. “My grandmother was part of that movement, so there’s a direct connection between that history and the design. It’s about the power of those matriarchs and the responsibility we now carry for the next generation.”
Behind the scenes, Delvene’s business is a family affair. Her sons, cousins and niece all work alongside her, whether in the studio or welcoming visitors to her Edward Street gallery.
“They have the authority to tell those stories and share them with the public just as proudly as I can,” she said. “I have absolute trust in them. They can be in the shop while I’m somewhere else and I know things will run well. That trust and ownership are part of what makes this a family enterprise.”
Her decision to expand from her Minjerribah store to a second space in Brisbane came from a desire to stay accessible to her growing customer base. “Not everyone can get to the island,” she explained. “Opening a store in the city means people can meet my family, attend workshops and maintain that connection.”
Asked what advice she’d give to anyone considering opening a store in the city, Delvene reflected on the practical lessons she’s learned along the way. “There are probably some things I could have done better,” she said, “like getting on top of my website earlier, and making sure there was a stronger layer of support beneath the physical store. I feel like I’m still learning.”
Beyond the logistics, she spoke about the importance of balance. “Keeping time for yourself and your family as things get busier, that’s the real challenge,” she said. “Childhood goes by so quickly, and I’ve probably missed some football matches because someone couldn’t cover the shop. I do feel a little bit guilty sometimes, so I’ve got to get better with that.
“Your responsibilities can overwhelm you. When you’ve got agreements in place, orders waiting, and the shop’s meant to be open, it can take over. So, for me, quarantining time for family is really important.”
From family stories to global stages
Delvene’s influence extends well beyond her own business. As a board member of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), she champions Indigenous innovation and helps connect Queensland’s First Nations enterprises to international markets.
“Through TIQ, we’ve held roundtables across the state to meet Aboriginal businesses directly,” she said. “Some want to expand globally, others prefer to stay local, but by knowing who they are and what they do, I can include them in conversations when I travel. Whether it’s art, tourism or seafood, I can represent them on those global stages.”
Her role saw her represent Queensland’s First Nations businesses at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, highlighting opportunities in sustainable trade and eco-tourism. “It’s about visibility,” she said. “Sharing who we are and what we can offer, while making sure those stories are told with authenticity.”
For Delvene, leading a creative business is about caring for people, for Country and for the stories she shares.
“It’s important that culturally, I’m doing the right thing,” she said. “That’s how we make sure our stories live on, through respect and responsibility.”
In staying true to her roots while forging new opportunities, Delvene embodies a brand of business that values depth over speed, collaboration over competition, and purpose over scale.
“People are interested in story, in connection, in meaning,” she said. “That’s what comes through in everything I do.”
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