Our sun-filled third floor gallery has been glowing with stunning artworks of both exceptional aesthetic merit as well as historical significance since October last year. By dedicating this expansive space solely to museum-quality pieces, our collection has grown significantly as we continue to acquire special works by those artists who have marked their place within the history of the Aboriginal art movement. Private collectors have come forward with paintings they have had hidden away in dark storerooms to contribute to this gallery, some having never been on public display. Community owned and run art centres have also provided us with their most ‘superstar’ paintings. Our collection continues to expand and evolve in exciting ways. 

Representing a host of Australia's greatest master artists from across the central desert of Australia, this gallery functions as an opportunity to acquire the best of contemporary Aboriginal art in an inviting and informative environment. By virtue of both cultural and artistic importance, the works could take pride of place in both museums and public galleries anywhere in the world. Leading indigenous artists represented here include Clifford Possum, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Turkey Tolson, Mick Namarari, Johnny Walangkura, Billy Stockman and many many more.

Three recent additions to our Collectors’ Gallery:

Patrick Mung Mung,  NGARRGOOROON - WAPMM461/08, natural ochre pigment on canvas, 120 x 180cm, $16,550

The staff were thrilled to acquire this striking, yet subtle ochre work by Warmun’s Patrick Mung Mung. Soft and delicate tones in sand and teal are contrasted with rich and deep browns, marouns and charcoal. The dot work outlines the undulating landscape of the Warmun region and ads a shimmering effect on the eye. The naïve style trees give a skewed perspective on the land, adding further character to the bold design. This is a strong work by Patrick Mung Mung, clearly displaying all he is capable of as an artist.

Patrick Mung Mung  is a senior artist, and respected elder of the Warmun Community in the East Kimberley. Painting since 1991, Patrick’s intricate knowledge of his country and cultural memory are powerfully linked in his work.  Patrick’s work is strongly influenced both aesthetically and thematically by the previous generation of Warmun artists, which include the famous Rover Thomas and Paddy Jaminji.

Eubena Nampitjin, Lucy Yukenbarri, Muntja  Nungura (collaboration)  - KARYANKGU (rockhole), MALIKI, TJINJULLU (soakwater)
ELMX645/96, acrylic on linen, 120 x 180cm, $29,300

What a rare and special collaborative piece by three highly acclaimed Balgo artists; Eubena Nampitjin, Lucy Yukenbarri and Muntja Nungura. All three artists depict their Dreamings in unique aesthetics, yet mutal tones and colours binds the three sections of this painting together into an extraordinary harmony and unity. The rich colours and linear shapes combine to create an artwork that has been beaming from one of our most prominent positions in the Collectors’ Gallery for the past weeks. 

The small Aboriginal Community of Balgo, Western Australia has produced some fantastic artists since the inception of an artist cooperative. Linked by both the Great Sandy desert and the Tanami Desert the artists draw from a rich cultural history in their work. 

Pansy Napangardi, Willy Wag Tail - PNAX001, acrylic on linen, 122 x 183cm, $16,500

In this recent acquisition, Warlpiri artist Pansy Napangardi depicts her Willy Wag Tail Dreaming in a dynamic yet balanced design. The symmetrical lines guide the eye into the concentric circle at the centre. The mix of warm and cool colours, all marked intricate dot work, creates a colour tension that shimmers and varies in different lighting conditions. 

Pansy Napangardi grew up on a mission settlement at Haast Bluff in Central Australia. She moved to Alice Springs in 1989, where she is now considered to be one of the foremost artists from Alice Springs. Pansy, with her sister  Eunice Napangardi, commenced painting on canvas very early in terms of the history of the movement. Although it has been said that Aboriginal women have only been painting since the 1980's, Pansy began recording her dreamings in the early 1970's at the start of the Papunya Art Movement and reportedly observed some senior male Papunya artists there to develop her technique.  Her paintings represent the fertility and glory of her traditional land, making a statement about the relationship of the her people and the land. Pansy's work gives voice to her traditional beliefs and symbolises a triumphal cultural statement by the once near defeated people of the Central Australian Desert. In 1989 Pansy won the 6th National Aboriginal Art Award and in 1993 won the Northern Territory Art Award. She is held in major collections throughout Australia, including the National Gallery of Victoria, The Queensland Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, amongst others.

All are available for purchase, complete with associated documentation, photos and videos where available. 

Good, Strong, Powerful!  National Gallery of Australia is showing works by Kukula  and others from Mwerre Anthurre artists in this show which runs until 15 January 2010.  Check out these fascinating naive artworks by indigenous artists across Australia - all with some form of disability.  You might like to check out the NGA's downloadable fact sheet too.

At Kate Owen Gallery, we have a number of Kukula's artworks in stock... and being very impressed by her works and those of fellow artists Adrian Robertson and Billy Kenda, we featured an exhibition of works from her art centre earlier this year.  Kukula McDonald's works are presently focused on the wild black cockatoos of the Australian bush, and she captures the character and spirit of these unique birds perfectly  (not an easy task, as many an artist who has attempted it can tell you!) 

Kukula spends her life in a wheelchair and the first focus of her artwork was just that - Wheelchairs!  She painted them relentlessly and it is said that she knows every make and model of every wheelchair owned by an aboriginal person throughout the country!

Now her focus is on the black cockatoos and their environment.  A poignant subject as well, given that birds in artworks often represent a subconscious yearning for freedom.  Her works are a unique and delightful representation of these cheeky outback characters by a gifted and plucky artist.  

“Recently Kate Owen Gallery teamed up with Tim Leveson Interiors (TLI) for a Real Living Magazine photo shoot for their October issue.

Tim Leveson Interiors is a boutique Sydney-based business with a small team of designers and stylists dedicated to their mission statement 'Make Space Work'.

In preparation for the shoot, we selected eight works which we thought might be suitable. On the morning of the shoot we pulled up to the beautifully renovated Federation home of Tim and his partner, Libby Knott with a van full of stunning paintings that were then transported around various rooms to find the perfect fit.

Eventually we all settled on this amazing Walangkura Napanangka that became the centre piece for the master bedroom. The resulting images were fantastic and everyone was thrilled with the result.”

In case you haven’t noticed we have a recent addition to our website which we’re very excited about!
It’s called ‘My Wish List’, it’s located in the upper right hand corner of your screen and basically allows you to create a wish list of works from our site.
While viewing any work on our site you can see that to the left of the image are all the details of the work, underneath this box are the Actions that you can choose from (incl. view more works by this artist, read artist biography, request more info) and it is here that you will find Add to Wish List.  Once you’ve compiled your list of favourite works you can print it out, bring us the list and our staff will find them for you!

Remember that we also have computers setup for you in our top gallery, which you’re more than welcome to print from!

COMING SOON: the ability to export your wish list and email it to us!

Hello!  This is my first blog entry, so I will start by introducing myself- my name is Jacqui and I am responsible for entering all new artworks into the system so they appear on the website and are ready for sale.  It’s a great job because I’m first to see all the new paintings that we get in from various art centres and artists around the country.  Kate has just come back from a trip to Alice Springs and the surrounding art centres, and has brought lots of exciting new pieces (this means more work for me!!).

One of the most exciting things Kate has brought back are indigenous prints, which we have never had before!  These prints come from the Iwantja Community, which is situated in far north South Australia.  The Art Centre traces its origins to the 1970s, when the Indulkana Arts Association taught secondary students wood carving, batik, patchwork, dying and painting.  By the 1980s, the community began experimenting with linoblock printing, with many of these prints now exhibited in the South Australian Museum.

My favourite works in this group of prints are the collographs.  Created by artists Suzie Prince and Kanakiya Tjanyari, these monochromatic pieces demonstrate a innocent naivety.  Dismissing standard notions of one point perspective characteristic of works on paper and canvas, these artists show a whimsical approach to objects in space.  In Putipula by Suzie Prince (below), the work starts to look more like a sculpture- there is no indication of a horizontal or vertical orientation, in many ways the work looks like a topographical glimpse of the artist’s country.  The sculptural quality is perhaps characteristic of the collagraph process, whereby materials as diverse as sandpaper, string, card, and leaves can be applied to the plate, covered with paint and then pressed onto paper.  With such texture applied to the plate, its no wonder that the prints have such depth!

Please come in to see these beautiful prints in person! Until next time, Jacqui

Suzie Prince  Putipula  collograph on paper (ed. 8/20)  25 x 36 cm - $225

Despite occurring some time ago we here at Kate Owen Gallery are still very, very impressed with this effort by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers: in 2005 20 women spent 3 weeks to create a weaved model of a Toyota.  Measuring in at 4 x 2 m the work was entirely created out of raffia, grass, jute string, chicken wire and steel!  The work went on to claim first prize at the prestigious Telstra Art Award (for 2005).  With judges Doug Hall (Director of the Queensland Art Gallery) and visual artist Destiny Deacon remarking that “Tjanpi Grass Toyota…is a wonderfully witty, well-crafted and relevant work.  In one sense it takes us to the heart of community life and its tradition of weaving from grass that belongs to the women’s country.  On the other hand, this work not only recognises but also celebrates the four-wheel drive as central to desert living for Aboriginal people.”

Tjanpi Toyota, 2005, photo by Thisbe Purich ©Tjanpi Desert Weavers

While we (unfortunately!) do not stock any works by the weavers quite this large we do have a large range of works, of varying sizes.  Including goannas, lizards & snakes through to an assortment of bowls and small figures!  As per usual all works available in the gallery are listed on our website so feel free to check them out here!

Collector’s Choice : top and bottom gallery, 31 March – 24 April
includes works by Judy Watson Napangardi, Kudditji Kngwarreye, Johnny Warangkula Tjupurulla, Shorty Jangala Roberston, Warlimpirringa and many more. We will be exhibiting some of the gallery’s finest collectible artworks from medium to XXL size throughout the gallery.

Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty  Wangga  acrylic on canvas  110 x 202 cm - $19,075

Thinking Outside the Square : charcoal gallery, 31 March – 24 April
a selection of small to medium size works by various artists including Jeannie Petyarre, Barbara Weir, Betty Mbitjana and Paddy Japaljarri Sims.
This show will hopefully give you ideas about how to display small to medium size artworks from emerging to collectible artists in a different way such as presented in our previous post ‘Value in numbers’.

Tanya Wheeler Napangati  Tjintjintjin  acrylic on linen  60 x 60 cm - $885

As usual, every art lover with any budget will be able to see artworks not only collectible but also from emerging artists in all sizes and with affordable price tags.

If you haven’t popped into the gallery yet, this is your last chance to see the show in our charcoal gallery before we take it down.

The works selected embrace the naive genre and depict sometimes with wit the urban life around Alice Springs. The colours are glorious, the style quirky.

The artists have exhibited around Australia but also Singapore and this show is not to be missed!

Margaret Boko, The Story of the Mingkri(Mouse), acrylic on linen, 30 x 90 cm - $850

Sally M. Mulda, Little Sisters Camp Life – Inarlenge, acrylic on linen, 60 x 90 cm - $1,700

Thanks to all who joined us at kate owen gallery last night, I think we can honestly say that everyone had a fabulous time!

Charlie came along and provided some music on the didgeridoo (and his famous didgeribone) accompanied by the violin, but also gave a talk on the finer details of how kinship in Aboriginal communities works.

Charlie McMahon giving a talk on kinship in aboriginal culture

Kate also gave a wonderfully insightful speech about what really happens behind the scenes in the aboriginal art world, how she selects the paintings, the different players in the industry, explaining what to look out for to make sure a work is authentic and many other things.

Kurun Wurun & Clinton entertained the crowd by providing us with some traditional music, singing and dancing.  Some of the men in the audience even joined in to learn the emu and kangaroo dance, with a bit of practise we might hire them for future events! Kurun also drew much attention by painting for those who were able to stay back a little later.

Kurun Wurun & his friend Clinton entertaining the crowd

So thanks again for helping us to enjoy such a wonderful event!

If you missed out please join us tomorrow and Kurun returns to continue painting in the gallery from 11.30am to 2pm tomorrow.