About | Marisa Ballinger

Marisa Ballinger is a multidisciplinary artist based on the lands of the Giabal Jagera People in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. As a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan descendant with mixed-European heritage, Marisa delves into the complexities of self-identity, embracing the notion that identity is not fixed but rather a dynamic and ever-evolving journey.

Drawing upon memory, experience and the nuance of everyday life, Marisa expresses deeply intertwined personal, cultural, and historical narratives in her works, capturing the intrinsic relationship between the maker, the medium, and the creative process. Marisa’s practice is characterised by an appreciation for form, line, and meticulous process, and her work is exploratory and diverse, incorporating a range of media, including fibre, textile, clay, timber, wire and found materials. Central to her practice is weaving, initially emerging as a valuable resource for wellbeing and subsequently becoming the means by which Marisa expresses the stories that shape both her identity and place in the world.

Blending contemporary and traditional techniques, Marisa explores form, space, light, and shadow, Her work is the conduit for self discovery, literally and metaphorically expressed through the material choices and personal stories embedded in her work.

Marisa has exhibited in galleries across Australia including Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and the University of Southern Queensland, as well as at Toowoomba's Regional Gallery and The Write Gallery . Marisa attended Kurdinthi: National First Nations Weaving Symposium in Adelaide in 2025 as an exhibiting artist and participant in workshops with Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Milingimbi Arts, and Bula’bula Arts' Yolŋu weavers. Recognised for her textile work, Marisa received the Local Excellence Award at the University of Southern Queensland’s Biennial Art Exhibition in 2024. In 2025, she was the winner of the Fairholme Open Art Prize, the Macquarie Emerging Artist Prize, and received a Highly Commended award in First Nations Art at the Queensland Regional Art Awards. Her work is held in private collections throughout Australia.