Reuben Oates is a proud trawlwoolway man, with deep ancestral ties to the Ben Lomond region in Tasmania’s north-east. He was born on melukerdee country in the small riverside town of Franklin, in the Huon Valley, and grew up further north on 40 acres in Mountain River. While his lineage traces back to Chief Mannalargenna through the Dolly Dalrymple line, it was the southern landscapes, the rivers, bushland, and wildlife of melukerdee country, that shaped Reuben’s early connection to land and culture.

Reuben’s introduction to painting came through his father, Leigh Oates, who gave him both the inspiration and the tools to begin his creative journey in 2004. From an early age, Reuben understood culture not just as something you carry, but something you live; with respect, with care, and with the quiet awareness that what is taken from the land must be given back in return.

By the age of nine, Reuben had already found representation through Art Mob. Reuben specialises in acrylic on canvas, using bold colour and layered detail to bring each story to life. His work is deeply rooted in Aboriginal storytelling, and his depictions of native Tasmanian animals carry strong themes of family, travel, community, and connection to Country.

Now a full-time artist for more than a decade, Reuben has extended his practice into large-scale mural work across Tasmania. His murals are found in schools, public spaces, and community buildings throughout the Huon Valley and surrounding towns. These works are more than just vibrant images; they are visual acknowledgements of identity, respect for the land, and shared cultural knowledge. They celebrate the beauty of Tasmanian wildlife, but they also speak to the strength and presence of Aboriginal culture in contemporary Tasmania.

Reuben’s approach to sharing culture is grounded in inclusivity and respect. He believes that culture should be shared in a way that is open and welcoming, never forceful. Through school programs, workshops, and public art, he teaches with a gentle presence, creating space for others to listen, ask, and understand. His childhood values remain central to his work today: respect the land, honour the animals, and give back more than you take.

Reuben’s artworks are held in public and private collections nationally and internationally. Yet for him, success is not measured by recognition alone, but by the stories he is able to share; stories that honour the past, reflect the present, and create space for a shared and united future.