Kirli Saunders

Brackish speaks to the meeting, the coming together of salt and fresh. To the estuaries, river mouths and tidal flats. It opens to the places where waters gather, carrying memory and beginnings. 
Brackish is about knowing the waters you hail from. And carrying them with you, as you move  across a threshold. In Brackish, rust, ochre and acrylic flow into one another, inseparable. The surface holds the trace of mixing—of pressure, sediment, tide—recording a moment on a journey. 

Fine art giclee prints on Hahnemuehle Bamboo 290gsm, 90% bamboo fibre, 10% cotton.

Available in A2, A3, & A4

This work seeks to assert Country’s own systems of mapping– escarpment edges, river banks, tide lines, Dreaming tracks, travelling paths forged by the feet of Ancestors. These are not boundaries imposed for ownership or control, these are the guides we attend to, to understand how we can relate here. 

In Topography, fluid and earthen shapes, made of rust and ochre, trace erosion and resistance, holding the memory of creator spirits, water, time and collective movement. 
Saunders’ map offers no conquest, no straight line through. It asks instead for audiences to pay closer attention to Country’s lines, to her boundaries, and ultimately to move with and not over her. 

Fine art giclee prints on Hahnemuehle Bamboo 290gsm, 90% bamboo fibre, 10% cotton.

Available in A2, A3, & A4

Limited Edition Tees by Kirli Saunders – Pre-Order Now

Due to overwhelming demand, Kirli Saunders’ exclusive T-shirts are back in a limited small print run. Available in sizes S-XL and in two stunning colours: 'Red' and 'Chocolate'

Each limited-edition tee features an excerpt from Kirli’s poem, “Mate, you're standing on stolen land,” elegantly printed across the back. The design includes an illustration of a Snake, a powerful sign of welcome or warning, on the back.

On the front, a subtle star constellation sits over the heart, offering a gentle nod to sky and the Ancestors.

Crafted from ultra-soft, 100% cotton and hand-printed on Dharawal Country, these tees are designed for everyone and celebrate connection to Country and culture.

Pre-orders will be express posted from the week of the 15th of December.

A profound and visionary collection of poetry and original artwork that explores personal narratives, First Nations wisdom and the many shapes of love, from one of Australia's most prolific young creatives.

Eclipse weaves reflections on Country with affirmation and cheek, fusing Beyoncé with quantum physics.

Through free verse, experimental and concrete poems, Kirli Saunders taps into the rhythm of Ancestral wisdom, offering connection and healing from the wounds of love, grief and our Nation's shared history. These poems celebrate the enduring strength found in kinship and Country itself, and at its heart, Eclipse is a dedication to Kirli's fierce and undying love for her community.

Accompanied by Kirli's minimalist portraits and sketches drawn from the earth, Eclipse dances rhythmically through time and space, reminding us that both joy and sorrow are part of the same path. Kirli's playful and intentional verse brings us back to the Old Ways, while offering a fresh blak queer lens through which to view the present and future.

Through this collection, Kirli invites readers to find themselves among the stars, grounded in the earth, and held in the constant embrace of Country, community and the cosmos.

Preorder now to receive your signed copy as soon as it’s released on July 1st.

It's safer on the edge, where we can walk with our feet on the floor ... but beyond the shore is a world that inspires awe. Will you dive in?

Written by award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders (OAM), with art by debut picture book illustrator Mark Chester Harding, Beyond the Shore gently encourages young ones to step beyond fear into curiosity.

Roam the water with me. We are here to learn.

Here to spin wisdom, to grow …

From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, a story told in a time of climate crisis. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People's knowledge and gathering community along the way.

Afloat is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future.

Kirli has created a book bundle with her entire collection. For a limited time only!

The book bundle includes:

Bindi

Meet 11-year-old Bindi. She’s not really into maths but LOVES art class and playing hockey. Her absolute FAVOURITE thing is adventuring outside with friends or her horse, Nell.

A new year starts like normal—school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn’t gone to plan! There’s a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist AND the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen!

Bindi is a verse novel for mid-upper primary students. Written ‘for those who plant trees’, Bindi explores climate, bushfires, and healing. Written from the point of view of 11-year-old, Bindi and her friends on Gundungurra Country.

Kindred

Kirli Saunders debut poetry collection is a pleasure to lose yourself in. Kirli has a keen eye for observation, humour and big themes that surround Love/Connection/Loss in an engaging style, complemented by evocative and poignant imagery. It talks to identity, culture, community and the role of Earth as healer. Kindred has the ability to grab hold of the personal in the universal and reflect this back to the reader.

Returning

Returning is a stunning work – a poetic and visual feast that takes you on Kirli’s journey of rediscovering self, Country and Connection. Kirli’s heartfelt experiences address large contemporary themes of decolonisation, self-determination, Identity, First Nations matriarchy, queerness, justice, love, liberation, and truth-telling. The backdrop to Returning is a time of huge upheaval with natural disasters, COVID and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Each poem is accompanied by evocative and poignant artwork that was created in response to its poem and vitalises its meaning. The artworks, visual poems, were originally shown at SHAC Gallery, Gundungurra land, in 2021 in the exhibition named Returning. Kirli’s multi-disciplinary artworks span across a range of mediums and displays, including but not limited to water colour, ink on hand-dyed silk, synthesising digital imagery with text, and installations of hand-crafted possum skin cloaks and weavings.

Returning was developed with consultation and guidance from First Nations Elders, Custodians, academics and artists.

The Incredible Freedom Machine

She was small when she heard about them... the incredible freedom machines.
In this sumptuous story of exploration and breaking boundaries, a young girl uncovers her very own freedom machine–a vehicle that carries her to all kinds of wondrous places.

A poetic and visual feast from First Nations author Kirli Saunders and multi-award winning illustrator Matt Ottley.

Our Dreaming

Goodjagah, little one, walk with me ... I want to tell you our Dreaming as the Elders told it to me. Award-winning storytellers, Gunai woman Kirli Saunders and Bigambul man Dub Leffler, explore a deep love and respect for Country and all her spirits ... past, present and beyond.

The Land Recalls You

Do not mourn the hands that raised you ... Do not weep for songs of land. Honouring the Stolen Generations, and all who've been taken, The Land Recalls You is a powerful story of returning, written with love and reverence by award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders (OAM) and illustrated by debut Bundjalung artists David and Noni Cragg.

Afloat

From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, a story told in a time of climate crisis. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People's knowledge and gathering community along the way.

Afloat is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future.

Book Bundle includes:

Returning (2023)

Returning is a stunning work – a poetic and visual feast that takes you on Kirli’s journey of rediscovering self, Country and Connection. Kirli’s heartfelt experiences address large contemporary themes of decolonisation, self-determination, Identity, First Nations matriarchy, queerness, justice, love, liberation, and truth-telling. The backdrop to Returning is a time of huge upheaval with natural disasters, COVID and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Each poem is accompanied by evocative and poignant artwork that was created in response to its poem and vitalises its meaning. The artworks, visual poems, were originally shown at SHAC Gallery, Gundungurra land, in 2021 in the exhibition named Returning. Kirli’s multi-disciplinary artworks span across a range of mediums and displays, including but not limited to water colour, ink on hand-dyed silk, synthesising digital imagery with text, and installations of hand-crafted possum skin cloaks and weavings.

Returning was developed with consultation and guidance from First Nations Elders, Custodians, academics and artists.

Kindred (2019)

Kirli Saunders debut poetry collection is a pleasure to lose yourself in. Kirli has a keen eye for observation, humour and big themes that surround Love/Connection/Loss in an engaging style, complemented by evocative and poignant imagery. It talks to identity, culture, community and the role of Earth as healer. Kindred has the ability to grab hold of the personal in the universal and reflect this back to the reader.

Book bundle includes

The Land Recalls You

Do not mourn the hands that raised you ... Do not weep for songs of land. Honouring the Stolen Generations, and all who've been taken, The Land Recalls You is a powerful story of returning, written with love and reverence by award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders (OAM) and illustrated by debut Bundjalung artists David and Noni Cragg.

The Incredible Freedom Machines

She was small when she heard about them... the incredible freedom machines.

In this sumptuous story of exploration and breaking boundaries, a young girl uncovers her very own freedom machine–a vehicle that carries her to all kinds of wondrous places.

A poetic and visual feast from First Nations author Kirli Saunders and multi-award-winning illustrator Matt Ottley.

Our Dreaming

Goodjagah, little one, walk with me ... I want to tell you our Dreaming as the Elders told it to me. Award-winning storytellers, Gunai woman Kirli Saunders and Bigambul man Dub Leffler, explore a deep love and respect for Country and all her spirits ... past, present and beyond.

Celebrate the release of Afloat with this exclusive book bundle!

Kirli Saunders invites you to reconnect with Country through her powerful storytelling. This special bundle includes Afloat and Bindi—two books that inspire us to care for the land, just as it cares for us.

This bundle includes:

Afloat
Roam the water with me. We are here to learn.
Here to spin wisdom, to grow …

From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, an inspiring picture book set against the backdrop of a changing climate. Guided by an Elder, a child journeys along the waterways, learning First Nations wisdom and gathering community along the way.

Through the beautiful metaphor of weaving, Afloat shares a message of hope and unity, honoring the teachings of First Nations people while encouraging all of us to work together for a better future.

Bindi
Meet 11-year-old Bindi, who loves art class, hockey, and exploring the outdoors with her horse, Nell. But this year brings unexpected challenges: a major art project, a drought, a broken wrist, and the biggest bushfires her town has ever faced.

Written ‘for those who plant trees,’ Bindi is a verse novel for mid to upper primary readers that explores themes of climate change, bushfires, and healing. Told through Bindi’s eyes on Gundungurra Country, this story is a heartfelt celebration of resilience, community, and connection to land.

This bundle is a meaningful way to embrace the wisdom of Country and inspire the next generation to care for the environment.

Synopsis

Returning is a stunning work – a poetic and visual feast that takes you on Kirli’s journey of rediscovering self, Country and Connection. Kirli’s heartfelt experiences address large contemporary themes of decolonisation, self-determination, Identity, First Nations matriarchy, queerness, justice, love, liberation, and truth-telling. The backdrop to Returning is a time of huge upheaval with natural disasters, COVID and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Each poem is accompanied by evocative and poignant artwork that was created in response to its poem and vitalises its meaning. The artworks, visual poems, were originally shown at SHAC Gallery, Gundungurra land, in 2021 in the exhibition named Returning. Kirli’s multi-disciplinary artworks span across a range of mediums and displays, including but not limited to water colour, ink on hand-dyed silk, synthesising digital imagery with text, and installations of hand-crafted possum skin cloaks and weavings.

Returning was developed with consultation and guidance from First Nations Elders, Custodians, academics and artists.

SHORTLISTED, 2020 AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARDS, SMALL PUBLISHERS’ ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTED, 2021 VICTORIAN PREMIER’S LITERARY AWARDS, INDIGENOUS WRITING

COMMENDED, 2020 KATE CHALLIS RAKA AWARD

WINNER, 2019 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PREMIER’S BOOK AWARDS, DAISY UTEMORRAH AWARD

WINNER, 2021 AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY AWARDS, SMALL PUBLISHERS' CHILDRENS BOOK OF THE YEAR

WINNER, 2021 QUEENSLAND LITERARY AWARDS, CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD

WINNER, 2021 SPEECH PATHOLOGY AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, EIGHT TO 10 YEARS

SHORTLISTED, 2021 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, YOUNGER READERS

SHORTLISTED, 2021 AUSTRALIAN BOOK DESIGN AWARDS, BEST DESIGNED CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK

SHORTLISTED, 2021 READINGS CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE

LONGLISTED, 2021 COLIN RODERICK LITERARY AWARD

By: Kirli Saunders, David Cragg (Illustrator), Noni Cragg (Illustrator)

Do not mourn the hands that raised you ... Do not weep for songs of land. Honouring the Stolen Generations, and all who've been taken, The Land Recalls You is a powerful story of returning, written with love and reverence by award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders (OAM) and illustrated by debut Bundjalung artists David and Noni Cragg.

SHORTLISTED, 2023 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR

She was small when she heard about them... the incredible freedom machines.

In this sumptuous story of exploration and breaking boundaries, a young girl uncovers her very own freedom machine–a vehicle that carries her to all kinds of wondrous places.

A poetic and visual feast from First Nations author Kirli Saunders and multi-award-winning illustrator Matt Ottley.