To celebrate International Women’s Day, we honour the creativity and strength of women whose stories shape our communities and cultural landscapes. At Queensland Museum, those stories are woven into handcrafted Bilum bags, printed across vibrant textiles, layered into contemporary design, and shared through powerful children’s books that carry language and knowledge forward. The Queensland Museum Shop proudly champions women creators whose work reflects resilience, connection to Country, cultural continuity and bold artistic expression — ensuring their voices are not only celebrated but supported every day of the year.
Sheryl J Burchill
First Nations Artist, Kuku Yalanji & Kuku Nyungkul
Sheryl J Burchill is a North Queensland First Nations artist whose work is deeply informed by her Kuku Yalanji culture. Known by her Kuku Yalanji name Walbul-walbul (Butterfly), Sheryl draws on traditional stories, cultural knowledge and lived experience from her ancestral lands of the Daintree, Shipton’s Flat and China Camp.
Her vibrant designs translate cultural storytelling into contemporary formats, including tea towels and tote bags available in the Museum Shop through her collaboration with Alperstein Designs. Sheryl’s work is represented in local, national and international collections — and through these everyday objects, her stories and culture can be carried into homes across Australia and beyond.
Discover Sheryl’s designs at the QM Shop.
Maggie T Kera & the Women of Project Two Mile
Founder & Social Enterprise Leader
Founded by Papua New Guinea native and Australian-based entrepreneur Maggie T Kera, Project Two Mile is a social enterprise with a powerful mission: to economically uplift marginalised women by providing a global platform for their artwork and craft.
What began in 2020 with five women weaving traditional Bilum bags has grown into a network of more than 100 weavers. Each Bilum bag reflects vibrant colour, bold pattern and generations of cultural knowledge. Importantly, the enterprise ensures women are paid fairly while preserving and teaching the ancient craft.
Through Project Two Mile products stocked in the Queensland Museum Shop, customers are not just purchasing a handcrafted piece — they’re supporting ethical practice, cultural preservation and economic empowerment. Discover more about Bilums in the museum’s free exhibition, un/tethered: connections through storytellers from Papua New Guinea.
View Maggie’s Bilums at the QM Shop.
Emily Engel
Graphic Designer & Maker, Brisbane
Brisbane-based designer Emily Engel brings a joyful, textural aesthetic to the Queensland Museum Shop with her range of greeting cards and wrapping paper.
Working with collaged monoprint techniques, Emily transforms layered colour and pattern into playful paper goods that celebrate creativity in everyday moments. Her designs offer a contemporary counterpoint to the Museum’s broader collection — bold, thoughtful and distinctly local.
By stocking Emily’s work, the Shop proudly supports Brisbane-based women in creative industries.
View Emily’s Greeting Cards at the QM Shop.
Cheryl Leavy
Author, Kooma & Nguri Nations
Cheryl Leavy is an award-winning poet and writer from the Kooma and Nguri Nations in western and central Queensland and recipient of Queensland Museum’s inaugural First Nations Fellowship. Her work celebrates First Nations culture, history, language and enduring connections to Country.
Her book Yanga Mother is a poetic celebration of motherhood and First Nations languages. Wandaguli Yanga (“There is always Mother”) is a beautiful bilingual picture book in Kooma and English that tells the story of a grey kangaroo and her joey, honouring the unbreakable bonds of family.
Through storytelling, Cheryl shares language, culture and knowledge with new generations — ensuring these stories continue to live and grow.
View Cheryl’s children’s book Yanga Mother at the QM Shop.
Visit the Queensland Museum Shop in-store or online and discover a variety of beautiful, functional and hand designed products created by Queensland women, visit 9:30am – 5pm or go to: shop.qm.qld.gov.au
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