LEAH CUMMINS SHARES CULTURE THROUGH CRICUT COLLABORATION

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

Leah Cummins, a Narlung woman living on Quandamooka Country, is using her art to share culture, connect community, and spark conversations — one design at a time.

The owner of Bunya Designs, she recently partnered for the second time with Cricut, a company known for its precision crafting machines that allow users to cut and press designs onto clothing, tote bags, and other surfaces.

She said the opportunity gives non-Indigenous people a chance to engage with Aboriginal art in a meaningful way.

“Art is important to us as Indigenous people — it’s storytelling, it’s self-determination, and it helps us support our families and communities,” she said.
“To have my designs available nationally through Cricut is exciting. People are using them, learning from them, and wearing them with pride.”

After two decades working in oil and gas exploration as a geoscientist, Cummins turned to painting to manage anxiety. She picked up a canvas during long service leave and soon found herself selling large pieces — a moment that changed the course of her life.

“I was sitting at the kitchen table painting and thought — I could actually do this full-time,” she said. “So the day before I was meant to go back to work, I quit.”

Since founding Bunya Designs, she has collaborated with national brands, created artwork for supercars, and worked with corporate clients to design artwork for their Reconciliation Action Plans.

But she remains committed to staying grounded and giving back.

“I try to build capacity in my own communities, sharing knowledge — like how to build websites or start a creative business,” she said.
“We don’t need gatekeeping. If I can’t do something, maybe someone else can. Our mob can transform lives through storytelling, whatever the medium — painting, weaving, textiles, photography.”

As for what’s next, she hinted at a major national project set to be announced later this year — but says the heart of her work will always stay the same.