Artist in Residence Sachém Parkin-Owens is a proud Noonuccal and African American artist whose practice spans visual art, poetry, music and public installation. Sachém’s residency has been a period of reflection and creative exploration, developing new music while considering the next evolution of his practice. Now, audiences are invited on that journey through an evening of songs, stories and works in progress shared for the first time.
“Performing is where I connect to people and myself the most. It almost creates this perpetual cycle of learning and re-learning lessons from the past because I’ve always spoken my truth.” – Sachém
Sharing new work alongside the stories and questions that shaped it, this intimate event offers a rare opportunity to experience a creative practice in motion – an honest exploration of where an artist has been, what they are leaving behind, and where they may be heading next.
“A phenomenal First Nations/ African American performer with a gift for creating connection, Sachém’s work is both hard-hitting and hopeful, an exceptional blend of unflinching honesty and hopefulness.”
– scenestr
MoB’s Artist in Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC.
Project supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Strolling into the Australian arts scene in 2018, Sachém emerged with a voice that felt both grounded and unmistakably his own. Working across lyricism, spoken word, and hip-hop, he crafts narratives that weave together personal memory, cultural inheritance, and lived experience.
His work has since found a natural home within major cultural institutions. In 2026, Sachém was named Artist in Residence for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, alongside residencies with the Museum of Brisbane and the State Library of Queensland—recognition of a practice devoted to carrying story forward through music.
