Shane Cook is a proud Wulli Wulli and Guwa (Koa) descendant from Queensland. Shane has been adopted by, and was named Mankitya (translates to "the scarred one"), by the local Aboriginal Kaurna community in Adelaide, SA. He's been mentored by Jack Buckskin of Kuma Kaaru, who Shane has had the opportunity to dance internationally with.
Shane's practice as an artist began from a young age, learning traditional painting from his mother. His interests then developed further into graffiti culture, street art and tattooing as he grew older. These art movements are hugely prominent in Shane’s unique contemporary style, which has led him to becoming a nationally recognised artist. Shane’s works has no artistic boundaries, from working on canvas, to participating in street art festivals, international artist exchanges and creating large scale murals. He has designed Indigenous Round football guernseys for AFL and multiple SANFL teams. He's painted the football boots of over 50 players for the AFL Sir Douglas Nicholls Round, and also created artwork for Anthony Mundine to be used for one of his last boxing fight kits.
Since high school Shane has been an advocate for personal growth, practising culture through art and dance, and has played a key role in facilitating workshops in schools, the youth justice system and community-based events throughout the country. His sheer passion and drive has created numerous opportunities, including becoming a graduate of the Indigenous Marathon Project by finishing the New York Marathon, facilitating community art projects in Kenya and traveling for personal development to the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, America.
Shane won a Indigenous Marathon Foundation Front Runners Grant and Scholarship upon becoming a graduate of the Indigenous Marathon Project and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts Psychotherapy. He also was the winner of the 2020 7News Department of Human Services Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Young South Australian of the Year. He is also a graduate of marathon runner and world record holder Rob DeCastella’s Indigenous Marathon Project.
