Most people would have heard of Albert Namatjira, the talented and famous Aboriginal artist from the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia who was a pioneer of contemporary Indigenous Australian art. Though Namatjira showed an interest in art at an early age, it wasn’t till he was around 32 years old that he took up painting seriously. Unlike traditional Aboriginal art that was abstract and contained symbolism, Namatjira’s painting was strongly influenced by Western art. His trademark was watercolour landscape paintings of the Australian outback.
Born in the same era as Albert Namatjira was another contemporary Indigenous Australian artist in the making. She was Emily Kame Kngwarreye from the Utopia community in the Northern Territory. Kngwarreye’s story is a good reminder that it is never too late to realize one’s dreams because Kngwarreye didn’t take up painting seriously until the ripe age of nearly 80. Her artwork began with batik cloth. When her eye sight deteriorated with age and the process of producing batik art became too tedious and troublesome for her, Kngwarreye switched to painting on canvas instead. Today her artwork is collected around the world.
Aboriginal art for sale, such as those of Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s and other artists from the Utopia community like
- Kathleen Petyarre
- Kathleen Ngale
- Gloria Petyarre
- Joy Kngwarreye Jones
- Polly Ngale
- Angeline Ngale
- Abie Loy Kemarre
- Susie Petyarre
can be purchased from art galleries around Australia that specialize in contemporary Australian Aboriginal art.
What makes Australian Aboriginal art unique?
Whilst beauty is in the eye of the beholder, likewise art appeals to different people in different ways. Aboriginal art is known for their spectacular colours, symbolism and metaphors that reveal the beauty of Australia and its rich cultural history.
Every painting tells a story. Take for instance Aboriginal dot pointing: the yellow represents the sun; the white represents the clouds and sky; the red represents the desert sand; and the brown represents the soil; all of which happen to be the traditional Aboriginal colours.
Can all dot paintings or aerial desert landscapes be considered as authentic Aboriginal artwork?
The short answer is no. Because of the many copy cats that are trying to cash in on the fame of these contemporary Indigenous Australian artists, the only way to guarantee that you are buying an authentic Aboriginal artwork is to purchase it from an art gallery that specializes in such art. Because these art galleries specialize in
Aboriginal art, they know how to select quality paintings that genuinely depict their place of origin. If you like the desert paintings from the Utopia community but don’t live in the Northern Territory, there are specialist art galleries that will let you browse and purchase artworks securely online, so that you too can be the next proud owner of an original Emily Kame Kngwarreye or some other Utopia Aboriginal artist’s painting.
Success of Australian Aboriginal art
History has shown that it isn’t just Australians who appreciate Australian Aboriginal art. Sotheby’s, the British and New York City broker of fine art, jewellery, collectibles and real estate, sold eight Kngwarreye paintings for a total of $507,550. Kngwarreye’s artwork has even made it to the prestigious Hermitage Museum in Russia with positive receptions from Russian art critics. Kngwarreye set a new record for Aboriginal artwork when one of her paintings was sold for over $1 million at a Deutscher-Menzies’ Sydney auction.