Yorkway Private delighted to feature Aimee McCartney artwork in boardroom

Aimee McCartney artwork - 2024

Yorkway Private is both proud and honoured to support ANVAM by acquiring and displaying this beautiful artwork in our boardroom.

Not only is it a stunning piece of art, the backstory is as interesting as the artwork itself - starting from the ANVAM story.

The ANVAM story

The Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) was set up in part by XKG founders. XKG is part of Yorkway Private’s investee business IAG, and remain the corporate partner and principle sponsor of ANVAM.

Established in 2013 in response to the growing issues related to veterans mental health and suicide, ANVAM is a veteran led charity with a primary objective to support the mental, physical and social health and wellbeing of the Veteran Community through arts engagement.

As a national arts and cultural institution, ANVAM offers innovative programs (including the artist-in-residence program) to help Veteran Artists shine, while ensuring that all veterans feel welcome regardless of the nature of their service, or skill levels in the creative arts. They foster an inclusive community of Veteran Artists across Australia, helping the community re-discover the important role of the arts for veterans.

ANVAM is working to establish a permanent home for Veterans Arts in Australia, serving as a hub from which programs will be pursued nationally.

ANVAM was established in part by XKG founders. XKG is part of Yorkway Private’s investee business Infrastructure Advisory Group (IAG), and remain the corporate partner and principle sponsor of ANVAM.

The artwork and backstory

This artwork was completed by veteran artist, Aimee McCartney, as artist-in-residence to ANVAM’s 7th annual exhibition in its March to Art series. Each exhibition has followed a theme relevant to the Veteran Community, with the 2024 exhibition theme being Form. As artist-in-residence Aimee was invited to propose responses to the theme, from which exhibition curators Tanja Johnston and Pam Bain selected the work to be developed.

The theme of Form sought to encompass the intention of making the arts more accessible to all members of the Veteran Community, particularly those who are visually impaired.

Aimee’s response is a 1.2m high x 2.75m wide acrylic on panel painting that reflects the shape and contours of the landscape, which was completed during the Festival of Veterans Arts (FOVA) in March 2024.

The artist - Aimee McCartney

Aimee McCartney is an emerging contemporary Aboriginal Artist and Muralist under the name Luruk-In, meaning ‘Your Sister’ in her mother’s language, Taungurung.

Aimee is a Flight Lieutenant with the Royal Australian Air Force and a Taungurung, Wotjobuluk, Wemba Wemba and Boon Wurrung woman. 

Aimee was born and raised on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm Melbourne. From 2005 – 2010 Aimee completed her secondary schooling at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School. From 2011 – 2013 she undertook a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Australian History and Archaeology at the University of Melbourne. 

For the next six years, Aimee worked in State and Federal Governments establishing employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples, across all departments, divisions and business units.

In August 2018, Aimee was commissioned as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) upon which she commenced her initial military training at Officer Training School (OTS), RAAF Base East Sale. She is now posted to Headquarters Air Academy as the Unit Personnel Capability Officer on Gunaikurnai country.

We are delighted to showcase this beautiful piece of art in our Yorkway Private boardroom.