Lia Tabrah is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and curator whose bold, socially engaged practice spans fashion, sculpture, and material innovation. She is best known for pioneering the development of ethically sourced Australian cane toad leather — a world-first project that transforms one of the nation’s most destructive invasive species into a luxury design material.

At the heart of Lia’s practice is a drive to turn ecological crisis into opportunity. She develops regenerative materials and methods that are both environmentally and culturally transformative, building a model for how art and design can lead systemic change.

Her curatorial and exhibition work has been presented by some of Australia’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Bendigo Art Gallery, Melbourne Museum, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Craft Victoria, and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

Through her curatorial platform VERMIN, Lia brings together artists, scientists, and First Nations collaborators to confront urgent ecological and cultural challenges, centring cross-disciplinary collaboration and community knowledge.

She has collaborated with many of Australia’s most celebrated creatives — including Jenny Bannister, Ken Done, Linda Jackson, Lisa Waup, The Huxleys, and Kate Rohde — and has exhibited in major programs such as Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Design Week, and Craft Contemporary.

In 2019, Lia collaborated with Kirsha Kaechele on Eat the Problem, a major MONA exhibition and publication that reimagined invasive species as art and haute cuisine.

Most recently, she was selected for a prestigious CSIRO research program, marking a major step forward in her mission to develop zero-waste, luxury-grade cane toad leather that meets international fashion standards. Her work continues to attract widespread national and international media attention, with features on ABC TV, NHK Japan, Marie Claire Australia, and The Guardian.