Kirli Saunders

Kirli Saunders (OAM) is a proud Gunai Woman who rarely stays in her lane. She's an award winning multidisciplinary artist, writer, singer-songwriter and consultant. Kirli creates, to connect, to make change. She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to the arts (2022). Kirli has partnered with global organisations including Google, Fender, Sydney Opera House, Qantas and Spotify, Mecca and Aesop on visual art and writing projects. Her award winning film collaboration, Cry of the Glossy (Grassland Films) has been screened around the world. Kirli created drone installation, Buungbaa Ma Ndhu (Fremantle Biennale x Ngunuggula Gallery) and voice to art work TRACES (Google, Magabala, Sydney Opera House with Kamsani Bin Salleh).

Kirli is currently working on her second solo exhibition Your Fantasy is Our Reality. Her books among others include  Bindi (Magabala 2019), Eclipse (JOAN press 2025),  The Land Recalls You (Scholastic, 2024) and Afloat (Hardie Grant, 2024). You can also find her episodes of ABC’s playschool on demand.

Kirli’s solo theatre show, Yandha Djanbay was staged for Merrigong X and will tour in 2026. As a singer/songwriter, she forms one half of Cooee alongside Mark Chester Harding. Their debut album Messengers will follow single releases in 2025. Her latest book is Eclipse.