Meet Ashleigh Pengelly

The Founder, artist & dreamer behind Little Black Duck

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Ashleigh Pengelly (she/her) is a Wiradjuri woman, multi-disciplinary creative, and the founder of Little Black Duck- a 100% Aboriginal-owned business proudly based on Wiradjuri Country in Uranquinty, just outside Wagga Wagga, NSW.

Little Black Duck was founded in 2015 as a way to bring art, culture, and conversation into everyday life. What began as a creative outlet has grown into a recognised Aboriginal-owned brand spanning functional art, design, photography, and cultural storytelling.

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Growing up Wiradjuri

Ashleigh grew up between Wagga Wagga and Leeton, moving between the housing commission suburbs of Tolland and Ashmont, then over to Wattle Hill in Leeton and back again. Coming from a big family meant a childhood shaped by shared stories, laughter, resilience, and strong kinship- cards with the aunties, nights at Nan’s house, walking the streets with cousins, always together.

At the centre of their world was her Nan, Eunice Higgins- the matriarch of the family and the steady force who grounded them in knowing who they are and where they come from. That strong sense of identity and belonging continues to guide Ashleigh’s work today.

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Culture, memory, and resilience

From an early age, Ashleigh actively sought out cultural knowledge from mob in her community, driven by a deep need to understand and honour her identity as a Wiradjuri woman. Her family has endured significant loss, including the impact of Muscular Dystrophy, and that experience of grief, strength, and survival is woven throughout her creative practice.

Her work often reflects lived experience- family, memory, love, loss, and connection to Country. Through her art, Ashleigh ensures that stories are not just remembered, but felt.

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More than an artist

Before anything else, Ashleigh is a mother, a partner, a daughter, and a sister. Family is her greatest inspiration and the reason legacy sits at the centre of everything she creates. Her work is guided by the belief that culture is living- something to be carried forward, shared, and experienced in everyday spaces.

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Creative practice and expertise

Ashleigh is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary creative working across visual art, photography, branding, product design, and cultural program development. She has built her practice through years of hands-on experience, collaboration, and community-led work, developing a strong reputation for authenticity, quality, and meaningful storytelling.

 

Her creative work has been used across:

• National branding and design projects

• Retail product collections and homewares

• Exhibitions and curated creative spaces

• Community and cultural programs

 

Alongside her studio practice, Ashleigh mentors other small businesses and creatives, supporting them to build sustainable, values-led brands. She is also the founder of a long-running Aboriginal book club- a program that has created consistent, meaningful space for conversation, learning, and connection for more than seven years.

Ashleigh’s work sits at the intersection of creativity, culture, and community impact, with a strong focus on longevity, integrity, and practical outcomes.

 

Recognition

Ashleigh’s work and leadership have been recognised through a number of awards and nominations, including:

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• 2021 Momentum Doctors Golden Crow Awards – Finalist

• 2020 CGU Kayku Kumpa Award – Recipient

• 2016 Wagga Wagga NAIDOC Young Person of the Year

• 2016 NSW/ACT Young Achiever Award – Career Kick Start Category

 

While these acknowledgements are meaningful, her greatest reward remains seeing her work held in homes, workplaces, and worn by people who connect deeply with its story.

 

The story behind Little Black Duck

Little Black Duck creates functional art designed to be lived with- from hand-painted teapots and serving boards, to candles that evoke memories of Country, to wearable art and design pieces that spark conversation.

Every piece is created with intention: to bring Aboriginal culture into everyday spaces in a way that feels accessible, contemporary, and grounded in respect.

As a self-taught artist and entrepreneur, Ashleigh has carved her own path- showing what is possible when creativity, culture, and business are led with purpose.

 

Working with Ashleigh

Ashleigh works with individuals, organisations, and businesses through:

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• Artwork commissions

• Brand and creative collaborations

• Photography projects

• Mentoring and advisory support

• Workshops and community-led programs

 

Little Black Duck is more than a business. It is a platform for storytelling, cultural expression, and First Nations sovereignty in creative practice.

 

By supporting Little Black Duck, you are investing in authentic Aboriginal storytelling, independent Blak business, and the continuation of cultural knowledge through art and design.

 

Mandaang guwu- thank you for being part of this journey.
Ashleigh xx