artist overview
Yuriyal Eric Bridgeman (b. 1986, Redcliffe, Queensland) is a multidisciplinary artist of Australian and Papua New Guinean heritage. Belonging to the Yuri tribe of Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea, Bridgeman lives and works between Brisbane and the highlands of PNG. His work explores identity, masculinity, and community through a unique fusion of photography, painting, performance, and installation.
A graduate of the Queensland College of Art (Bachelor of Photography, 2010), Bridgeman’s practice is both personal and collaborative. He is a co-founder of Haus Yuriyal, an artist collective based in Jiwaka Province, which engages in the traditional practice of shield painting as a form of cultural expression and peacebuilding. Working closely with the Yuri Alaiku Kuikane Association, the collective uses art as a platform for reconciliation and unity among the Yuri clans.
Bridgeman’s work has been widely exhibited across Australia. His solo exhibitions include Kala Büng (2018, Milani Gallery), My Brother and the Beast (2018, Gallerysmith), and The Fight (2017, Monash Gallery of Art). His acclaimed installation Haus Man was presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in 2012. He has also participated in major group exhibitions, including Just Not Australian (2019, Artspace), The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial (2015–16, QAGOMA), and Number 1 Neighbour (2016, QAGOMA).
