Luruk-In

Luruk-In is an Australian Aboriginal art business founded by Aimee McCartney, a proud Taungurung, Wotjobaluk, Wemba Wemba, and Boon Wurrung woman. Born and raised on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne), she now lives on Gunaikurnai Country in regional Victoria. Raised in a large, close-knit family, Aimee was surrounded by culture from an early age. Dance, weaving, painting, and singing were part of everyday life and became central to her identity and creative expression.

As a contemporary Aboriginal artist, Aimee’s work is recognised for its vibrant colour palettes, layered textures and intricate storytelling. Her canvases explore modern society through the lens of the world’s oldest living culture, blending ancestral knowledge with contemporary perspectives. She draws inspiration from Country its waterways, mountains, sand, soil, and shells translating these elements into visual narratives that honour connection, kinship, and continuity.

I create art because...

I create art because it’s how I stay connected to Country, to my ancestors, and to myself. It’s how I carry stories forward. When I paint, I’m not just creating something beautiful - I’m honouring lineage, preserving knowledge, and making space for culture to be seen, respected and understood.

I am different to most artists because...

I am different to most artists because my work isn’t just aesthetic - it’s cultural responsibility. Every symbol, every line and every colour holds meaning. I don’t paint to fill a canvas. I paint to tell a story, to educate and to represent the world’s oldest living culture in contemporary spaces.

When you look at my art, the thing I want you to feel is...

When you look at my art, I want you to feel connection. To feel warmth. To feel grounded. I want you to sense that you are standing on Country that the waterways, mountains, sand and soil are holding you. And I want you to feel respect for the stories that have always been here.

The thing I most want to say to non-artists is...

Art isn’t “just a hobby.” It’s work. It’s discipline. It’s vulnerability. It’s late nights and deep thinking and cultural responsibility. When you support an Aboriginal artist, you’re not just buying a piece - you’re investing in culture, storytelling, and survival.

I believe art is an important part of our lives because...

Art teaches us who we are. It holds memory. It creates dialogue. It builds bridges between communities. And for Aboriginal people, it has always been a living archive a way to pass knowledge from generation to generation.