Torres Strait Islanders are one of two distinct Indigenous groups of Australia, with the other being Aboriginal peoples. The Torres Strait Islands are located between the northern Cape York Peninsula and the borders of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. There are at least 274 islands in the Torres Strait, with 18 of these being home to present-day communities.
Cultural practices in the Torres Strait Islands can be linked to Papua New Guinea and Aboriginal Australia. They are characterised by a strong ceremonial life, notably dance and performance. Torres Strait Islanders have a vibrant artistic culture, with printmaking, mask making and weaving being some of the most distinct mediums of contemporary Islander cultural expression.
The sea, land, sky and waterways are central to many legendary stories of creation that predate colonisation and have a significant presence today. Torres Strait Islanders have an oral culture, and stories are communicated through song and performance. There are two distinct traditional languages in the Torres Strait Islands: Meriam Mir (Eastern Islands) and Kala Lagaw Ya (Western and Central Islands). Torres Strait Creole, a mixture of traditional languages and standard Australian English, is also spoken by most Islanders.
Today about 80% of Australians of Torres Strait Islander descent live on the mainland, with large communities residing in north Queensland towns such as Townville, Mackay and Cairns, following the relocation of Torres Strait Islanders to the mainland for further work and education. Although located away from the Islands, Torres Strait Islanders residing on the mainland maintain a strong sense of culture and identity, as seen in the works of Torres Strait Islander artists held in the Art Gallery of NSW's collection.