Gems of the Desert Exhibition returns to Darling Park!

In an colourful exhibition, Kate Owen Gallery brings the indigenous masters of the desert back to Darling Park building lobby in Sydney's CBD.  Featuring works by Gloria Petyare, Kudditji Kngwarreye, Yinarupa Nangala, Debra McDonald and many others.

Our indigenous art consultant Carrie Mulford is on site from 12.30 to 2.30pm Wednesday to Friday to assist you with any queries. Please drop in during your lunch break or anytime of the day to view our artworks.

The exhibition continues until  31 March 2011.


Naive Australian Aboriginal Art - have a look - it's different!

 'Naive Art, or Outsider Art, refers to works by artists in sophisticated societies who reject or lack professional training.  Naive artists create art with the same passion and intentions as trained artists, but work without formal knowledge of methods and training.  Naive artwork is characterized by the use of bright strong colors, detailed images, and an absence of perspective (creating the fantastical illusion of forms and figures floating in space). Naive art represents memories, dreams, fantasies and scenes from every day life with an emphasis on color and shapes. Naive is often associated with Folk Art, but is very different because of the simple fact that Naive art is less concerned with social structures, political correctness, and traditions.  Naive art emerged in the last fifty years as one of contemporary art’s most important styles because it has endured the ever changing styles around it, and remains generally the same. It is interesting to note that despite the large number of primitive or naive painters around the world, they all possess a distinct unity of style.'   Source: ArtHistoryGuide.com

In the case of Tangentyere Artists, those of Mwerre Anthurre, and an increasing number of other artists from Aboriginal Art Communites, the works represent an entirely different kind of expression from the desert art normally featured in Kate Owen Gallery's collection.  Where the majority of our art is a contemporary expression of ancient stories and important dreamings, these Naive painters are, as the definition above states, more concerned with the here and now, and express the artist's experience, dreams, hopes, values and memories in a colourful and beautifully simple way.  Subjects such as Elizabeth Nampitjinpa's 'Car and House Out Bush' and Louise Daniel's delightful 'Meeting with the Land Council' are a fascinating narrative of the indigenous person's experience.  Indeed, they are highly collectible snapshots of an important time of change, resistance and transition for all Australians.


Left:  Artist Sally Mulda       Right: Artist  Jane Young


Left: Artist Doris Thomas      Right: Artist Eileen Ungwanaka


Artist Grace Robinya

What better way to complete this introduction than with the beautiful smiling face of Artist Grace Robinya (above).  To see artworks from this community visit the Tangentyere Artists Exhibition at our Rozelle Gallery from 12 - 27 March, 2011 or buy on line.  More works will be added during the week before the 12th March, so stay tuned...


Nellie Nakamarra Marks

Nellie Nakamarra Marks   Kalipinypa  acrylic on linen  90 x 120 cm  - $4,105 [NNMAR1102]

Isn’t this a fantastic work by Nellie? This is her latest style and we are very impressed. The style is quite distinctive from her previous works and the colours are amazing. I feel she’s getting a bit more loose and organic in her style and this makes her paintings even stronger.

I think that this is one of our greatest pleasure working in an art gallery: seeing artists changing, evolving, loosen up, experimenting. This is very rewarding!

This is something we find also in Gracie Ward Naplatjarri’s and Esther Bruno Nangala’s work,  keep an eye out for them.

In this work Nellie relates women’s business in Kalipinypa. She is an acclaimed artist from Kintore in the Northern Territory and the daughter of master Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula (now deceased) , and sister to Elizabeth Marks Nakamarra.  Her works sell well, and with this advance in style and technique, we are expecting her prices and sales to rise.

Please read more about the artist on our website!


Naive Aboriginal art from Mwerre Anthurre


Our first show of 2011: Marvellous naive works from three Mwerre Anthurre Artists; Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson and Billy Kenda. Each quirky, cameo like painting is distinctly that of the artist and no other: from the wild black cockatoos of Kukula McDonald, to the painterly and enigmatic landscapes of Adrian Robertson, and the strangely coloured vistas of Billy Kenda's country, peopled with trucks, cars, helicopters and planes, and inhabited by figures with a sense of extraordinary character and purpose.
Each of the artists is separated from their land, and this painful reality is expressed through their art.  One realises the depth of yearning that is there - the haunting cries of Kukula's cockatoos seem audible, Adrian's landscapes have a dreamlike quality, and what is it about those truck drivers in Billy's almost alien landscape?
Very affordable, unique and collectible.
For more information visit our website www.kateowengallery.com from Thursday 6th January.
The show opens at 2pm on Saturday 8th January 2011, and continues until Sunday 30th.