Michael Cook

Michael Cook (born 25 August 1968) is an Aboriginal Australian photographic artist of Bidjara (south-western Queensland) heritage, whose work is held in major Australian galleries. He strives to promote understanding of Indigenous Australian culture and history in his work, and is the winner of two Deadly Awards. Early life and education Michael Cook was born on 25 August 1968 in Brisbane, Queensland. He was raised by adoptive parents Ronda and Keith Cook, who were not Indigenous, but brought him up to value and nurture his Aboriginal identity. His natural mother, Valda Cook (no relation to the adoptive Cooks), was a white teenager. After making contact with Valda as an adult, he learnt that his father was Bidjara, but he has never met him or spoken to him. Michael went to school in Hervey Bay. He was 14 years old when he got his first camera, and got a job in a photo processing lab at 17.