Pintupi people | Australia b.c.1946 | Untitled (Tjintjintjin) 2006 | Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen | 183 x 244cm | Purchased 2008. The Queensland Government's Gallery of Modern Art Acquisitions Fund | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery

Lena Yarinkura | Kune/Rembarrnga people | Australia b.1961 | Yawkyawk (female water spirit) 2004 | Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis), paperbark, natural pigments, feathers and PVC fixative | 195.5 x 47 x 26cm | Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery © Lena Yarinkura, 2004. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney, 2009

Walangkura Napanangka
Pintupi people
Australia b.c.1946
Untitled (Tjintjintjin) 2006
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen
183 x 244cm
Purchased 2008. The Queensland Government's Gallery of Modern Art Acquisitions Fund
Collection: Queensland Art Gallery

Lena Yarinkura
Kune/Rembarrnga people
Australia  b.1961
Yawkyawk (female water spirit) 2004
Twined pandanus palm leaf (Pandanus spiralis), paperbark, natural pigments, feathers and PVC fixative
195.5 x 47 x 26cm
Purchased 2004. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
Collection: Queensland Art Gallery
© Lena Yarinkura, 2004. Licensed by Viscopy, Sydney, 2009

Banner image:
Pedro Wonaeamirri | Tiwi people | Australia b.1974 | Pwoja (Pukumani body paint design) 2005 | Natural pigments on canvas | 196 x 118cm | Purchased 2005. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery

Indigenous Australian Art

The Indigenous Australian art collection at the Queensland Art Gallery represents the diverse artistic expression of one of the world's oldest continuing societies. Works in this collection are drawn from all regions of the country, with Queensland being a key focus. Though still relatively small, the Indigenous Australian collection has grown remarkably in recent years, with a strong contemporary focus.

Pre 1970s
The earliest painting in the Indigenous Australian collection is Corroboree by Victorian artist and social activist William Barak, which dates from the 1880s. The first acquisition in 1947 was of the watercolour Western MacDonnells c.1945 by  Arrernte (Aranda) artist Albert Namatjira, with an important gift in 1979 of 30 Hermannsburg watercolour paintings further developing this aspect of the collection. Hermannsburg paintings were showcased in the Gallery exhibition ‘Namatjira to Now’ in 2009, which also included vibrant contemporary ceramics and acrylic paintings by Hermannsburg women artists.

A fine group of works by senior Papunya artists — including Bush tucker story 1972, a key painting by Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri — charts this major art movement from its inception. The Gallery also has significant early holdings of bark paintings from Arnhem Land and Wadeye (Port Keats). East Cape York artist Joe Rootsey is well-represented with his unique watercolours and a selection of 1960s barks from Hopevale also enriches the early Indigenous collection.

Contemporary Queensland art
Following the exhibition ‘Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York and the Rainforest’ in 2003, the Gallery acquired a substantial collection of works from these regions. Sculpture from Aurukun; ceramics by Thanakupi; paintings by the Lockhart River Art Gang; fibre works from Yarrabah, Lockhart River, Girringun and Mossman; and an imposing group of rainforest shields and swords now form a vital aspect of the Queensland contemporary art collection. 

Contemporary urban art
Indigenous Queensland artists continue to dominate contemporary art practice in Australia and are also increasingly widely represented overseas. Vernon Ah Kee, Richard Bell, Gordon Hookey, Fiona Foley, Judy Watson, Vincent Serico and Tony Albert offer their unique political and social perspectives in works. Other works in the collection by contemporary urban Indigenous artists include photography, video and film by Destiny Deacon, Brook Andrew, Christian Thompson, Genevieve Grieves and Ivan Sen, with major photographic suites by Michael Riley and Ricky Maynard.

Torres Strait islands
Performance sculptures and printmaking are currently major Torres Strait Islander art forms, and the Gallery holds one of the leading collections, including a significant group of innovative dance sculptures by senior artist Ken Thaiday. Large-scale prints by Dennis Nona were included in ‘The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ in 2006 and his brother George Nona was represented by a major suite of 13 of his dhoeri headdresses in the Gallery’s 2008 exhibition ‘Contemporary Australia: Optimism’. These now form part of the Gallery’s developing Torres Strait Island collection.   

Desert painting
The Central, Western and Eastern desert collection encompasses the whole period of the production of portable art in that region, enabling the Gallery to tell all the chapters of the desert story. Major paintings recently acquired by celebrated artists George Tjungurrayi, Walangkura Napanangka and Doreen Reid Nakamarra complement a major suite of works by eminent artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye provide a contemporary Desert presence.

Arnhem Land and northern Australia
A diverse range of art from the north of Australia includes a collection of monumental hollow log burial poles, a major group of Banumbirr (Morning Star poles) and ornamental feathered objects from Galiwinku. Paintings by leading artists from the Yirrkala community in the Buwayak (invisibility) style are a focus, including a group of bark paintings and larrakidj memorial poles by culturally and politically important figure Djambawa Marrawili who was included in ‘The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’. There are paintings and fibre work from senior Peppimenarti female artists and a developing collection of works including pukamani poles and tunga (bark baskets) by leading Tiwi artists.

In the collection are key paintings by the eminent Kimberley artists Rover Thomas and Queenie McKenzie, as well as an important recently-acquired painting on canvas by elder artist Lily Karadada. A full set of balmarra, the monumental coloured wool performance sculptures by Alan Griffiths, a group of riji (pearl shell pendants) by Aubrey Tigan and dance frames by Roy Wiggan, make the Kimberley representation a diverse and exciting aspect of the collection.

Aboriginal fibre art
Since 2003, the Gallery has acquired over 300 Aboriginal fibre works, which will be showcased in the 2009 exhibition ‘Floating Life: Contemporary Aboriginal Fibre Art’. As well as woven pieces made from natural and synthetic materials, related three-dimensional objects, paintings and prints referencing fibre are also included. Arnhem Land artists have provided rich material; however, artists breaking new ground such as Lorraine Connelly-Northey and Jonathan Jones have extended the collection in exciting directions. Groups of works by leading fibre artists Yvonne Koolmatrie, Shirley MacNamara, Lena Yarinkura and Judy Baypungala give due prominence to these pioneer artists in a genre that has gained recent recognition.

Bruce McLean
Associate Curator, Indigenous Australian Art

Diane Moon
Curator, Indigenous Fibre Art, Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art