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Celebrate Aboriginal artists through ANKA

Meet the artists behind the art

Celebrate Aboriginal artists through ANKA

Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists (ANKA) is the peak support and advocacy body for Aboriginal artists and Aboriginal-owned community art centres across Northern Australia. A not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation governed by an all-Aboriginal board, ANKA has strong grassroots membership and has delivered services to its members for over 30 years. [*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article may have images of people who have passed away.]

Copyright Law protects the Artists Copyright in their original artworks. ANKA and Pinterest ask you to learn about the Indigenous Art Code and ethical buying to enjoy these works in ways that are respectful and honour the artists. Screen Printed Fabric, Printing On Fabric, Naidoc Week, Aboriginal Artists, Knight Art, Indigenous Art, Lino Print, Ethics, Artist Art

Screen Printed Fabric

Printing On Fabric

Aboriginal Artists

ANKA

ANKA

Arnhem Northern and Kimberley Artists - Working Together to Keep Art, Country and Culture Strong Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Art, Bad Assery Quotes, Creative Business, Business Ideas, Student Portal, Naidoc Week, Australian Art, Healing Journey

Aboriginal Culture

Bad Assery Quotes

Creative Business

Healing Journey

Pinterest Australia

Pinterest Australia

Journey to America, 2020, natural pigments on eucalypt bark. Djambawa Marawili explains: 'The land has everything it needs. But it couldn’t speak. It couldn’t express itself. Tell its identity. And so it grew a tongue. That is the Yolŋu. That is me. We are the tongue of the land. Grown by the land so it can sing who it is. We exist so we can paint the land. That’s our job. Paint and sing and dance. .. Without us it cannot talk. But it is still there. Only silent.' Naidoc Week, Arts Award, Indigenous Art, Aboriginal Art, First Nations, Printmaking, Pigment, Identity, Illustration Art

Illustration Art

ANKA

ANKA

Selina Nadjowh and Sylvia Badari at the Injalak Arts screenprinting table printing fabric with the Injalak women's Marebu (Woven Mats) design. Naidoc Week, S Brick, Old Rock, Screen Printed Fabric, National Art, Screenprinting, Aboriginal Art, Sylvia, Rock Art

Screen Printed Fabric

ANKA

ANKA

Christine paints her mother’s country, south of Balgo in the Great Sandy Desert. Her paintings are named after the 'Yinta' (living water) she depicts as the central circle in her paintings. The 'Yinta' is a vital and special place, as it always has good drinking water. Surrounding the central 'Yinta' multiple lines radiate outwards; representing the 'Tali' (sandhills) that dominate the country there. Christine is the youngest daughter of artist Helicopter Tjungurrayi. Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Naidoc Week, Bold Art, Artist House, Living Water, National Art, Simple Things, Mulan

Indigenous Australian Art

ANKA

ANKA

Djapu clan people like Guykuḏa Munuŋgurr use bark from the plant 'dhaŋgi' as a fish poison in freshwater creeks. They then use 'Gany’bu'- triangular string nets similar to the beak of 'Galumay' the Pelican as they wade through the waters scooping up the fish. Pelicans line up as a team driving the fish before them. In funeral ceremony, Djapu dancers dance the Pelican ushering the spirit before them. It turns out that the collective term for a group of Pelicans in English is a ‘scoop’. Funeral Ceremony, Naidoc Week, Local Art, Indigenous Art, Native Art, Beak, First Nations, Pelican, Poison

Funeral Ceremony

ANKA

ANKA

‘It’s good, these are good colours’. Aboriginal Painting, Aboriginal Artists, Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Atelier Ideas, Australian Photography, Aboriginal Culture, Artist House, African American Art

Aboriginal Painting

Aboriginal Artists

Indigenous Australian Art

Australian Photography

Aboriginal Culture

African American Art

ANKA

ANKA

In partnership with Fremantle Arts Centre the women artists of Balgo participated in workshops to learn the art of silk scarf painting. Many women artists had worked on silk in the past, so this was an opportunity for the young people to also learn the technique. The art centre is a bustling hub, with everyone keen to try new techniques, young women, elders and their families are excited by their new creations. These workshops were supported by Connecting Up and the Fremantle Arts Centre. Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Naidoc Week, Bold Art, Fremantle, Artist House, Silk Scarf Painting, Local Art, Mulan

Indigenous Australian Art

Silk Scarf Painting

ANKA

ANKA

'Art Centres are only for art, that’s what I’ve been told. But in Aboriginal way you can’t separate language, dance, song, country, story and traditional knowledge from art. Everything connects, art cannot stand-alone, that’s the thing we really have to fight for’. Gabriel Nodea, Chairman Warmun Art Centre, ANKA Kimberley Artists Statement, 2012 (updated 2017) Naidoc Week, Aboriginal Artists, Kimberley, First Nations, Community Art, One In A Million, Gabriel, Separate, Centre

Aboriginal Artists

One In A Million

ANKA

ANKA

Dhuwarrwarr Marika with her bark painting depicting Macassan Swords and knives. Dhuwarrwarr is one of the first Yolngu female artists to paint sacred designs or 'Miny’tji' as taught by her father Mawalan Marika. This lady is a national treasure. Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Naidoc Week, National Treasure, Marika, Native Art, Aboriginal Art, First Nations, Female Artists

Indigenous Australian Art

National Treasure

ANKA

ANKA

‘This is a painting of my dad Churchill Cann’ - a famous artist from Warmun. ‘He is surrounded by his country. The top of his hat is a place we call Red Butte. Its Aboriginal name is Buttill - meaning red rock and red ochre. The yellow part of the hat is the sandy ground that surrounds the hill. The black is rivers and the black buttons [on his shirt] represent water holes. The moon on his neck is the necklace I gave him’. This painting was a finalist in the 2020 Archibald Prize.   " World Art Day, Arts Month, Texas Country, Archibald, National Art, Carrington, Aboriginal Art, First Nations, Churchill

ANKA

ANKA

Larry is a Kunwinjku man, his skin name is Nakamarrang and his clan group is Marririn. His country is Kurrukurr and Kumarrirnbang. Australian Decor, Saltwater Crocodile, Naidoc Week, Old Rock, Screen Printed Fabric, Indigenous Art, Aboriginal Art, Limited Edition Prints, Rock Art

Australian Decor

Saltwater Crocodile

Screen Printed Fabric

Limited Edition Prints

ANKA

ANKA

Bábbarra Designs, worn by the artists at the Arc of Triumph, Des Champs Elysees. Silk Screen Printing, Printing On Fabric, Naidoc Week, Local Women, Champs Elysees, Lino Print, First Nations, Black Love, Running Women

Silk Screen Printing

Printing On Fabric

ANKA

ANKA

Award-winning artist Napuwarri Marawili at work. Naidoc Week, Dugong, National Art, Centre, Australia, Artist, Work, Projects, Painting

ANKA

ANKA

Gabriel Nodea is a senior Gija artist and culture-man who has held significant leadership roles at Warmun Art Centre. He has been long term art centre Chairperson; Cultural Liason Officer; and has facilitated the University of Melbourne educational partnership. He has also been the Deputy Chair of Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists (ANKA) for many years. Gabriel's work is dedicated to keeping Gija culture alive in the contemporary world. Enjoy the 2014 video on the Warmun Art Website. Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Art, Naidoc Week, University Of Melbourne, Leadership Roles, Abstract Expressionist, Reconstruction

Indigenous Australian Art

Aboriginal Culture

University Of Melbourne

Leadership Roles

Abstract Expressionist

ANKA

ANKA

Regina's work in progress on her commissioned 'Wupun' (Sun Mat) for the NT Department of Health's new development, Manunda Place in Darwin's CBD. World Art Day, Atelier Ideas, Arts Month, Naidoc Week, Aboriginal Artists, Anomaly, True Art, Clay Creations, Art Techniques

Aboriginal Artists

ANKA

ANKA

Gwenneth Blitner has lived in Ngukurr her whole life. She was born in the old Roper River Mission in 1958 and was educated at the bush school. Gwenneth is of the Bornanang - Warmutjan clans and Marra and Nunnggubuyu language groups. She learned painting from her brothers Glen and Donald Blitner and now paints every day. Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Artists, Pattern Art, Color Patterns, Naidoc Week, Interior Tiles, National Art, First Nations, Artist Studio

Aboriginal Culture

Aboriginal Artists

ANKA

ANKA

Lillian Guymala made this using pandanus and natural dyes. The coiling technique used in this work was traditionally used by southern Aboriginal people of the Murray River. It was introduced to Arnhem Land in the 1920’s. Kunwinjku women have been developing the artform for 100 years, experimenting with the new forms and adapting it to local materials. Aboriginal People, Aboriginal Art, Australian Decor, Murray River, Naidoc Week, Old Rock, Screen Printed Fabric, First Nations, Limited Edition Prints

Aboriginal People

Australian Decor

Screen Printed Fabric

Limited Edition Prints

ANKA

ANKA

'Miyalk' (Women) in our community are the master weavers. Harvesting 'gunga' (pandanus) and natural dyes in Arnhem Land requires sophisticated botanical knowledge, and the process of creating fibre works from raw materials has been passed down over generations. Women use the knowledge given to them by their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Our pandanus baskets, bags and mats are available online at Yirrkala.com Naidoc Week, Grandmothers, First Nations, Raw Materials, Natural Dyes, Weavers, Pleasure, Baskets, Centre

ANKA

ANKA

Wukun Wanambi is a multiple award-winning artist, dedicated cultural advisor to our art centre and senior Marrakulu clan elder. Wukun was one of the first (if not the first) artist to include natural irregularities in his 'larrakitj' (hollow log) sculptures. Traditionally the poles were straight and perfect cylinders. His eye for nature’s artistic touch has changed the way 'larrakitj' are viewed as art and as a continuation of a long-standing cultural practice Naidoc Week, Earth Pigments, National Art, Advisor, Clan, Hollow, Centre, Sculptures, Practice

ANKA

ANKA

Imelda walked into old Mission with her mother, accomplished painter Lucy Yukenbarri as a small child and lived in the dormitories at the Mission for a number of years. She spent a lot of time with her mother, Lucy, who would explain the importance of passing on the stories they were painting to the children of the family. Imelda is proud to carry on the legacy of the painting style and stories of her mother. This work was a finalist in the 2019 Bayside Art Awards. Indigenous Australian Art, Indigenous Art, Bold Art, Artist House, Cultural Diversity, Arts Award, Aboriginal Art, Painting Style, Western Australia

Indigenous Australian Art

Cultural Diversity

Western Australia

ANKA

ANKA

Maŋgalili clan elder Baluka Maymuru with a very special work. Baluka is the exemplar of a Yolŋu elder, softly spoken he dedicates himself to his onerous ceremonial duties. His works are refined and require focus, dedication and hard work. The results are some of the most significant classical Yolŋu bark paintings and sculptures made in contemporary times. Naidoc Week, Ceremonial, Hard Work, Clan, Refined, Centre, Sculptures, Focus, Workshop

ANKA

ANKA

Another masterpiece completed by a very happy Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu. Pick up a copy of 'The Moment Eternal', the stunning new publication on her work at the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka online store. Naidoc Week, Amazeballs, Local Art, Color Me, Colour, Aboriginal Art, Printmaking, Diy And Crafts, Masterpiece

ANKA

ANKA

Bulthirrirri Wunuŋmurra with an incredible Mokuy spirit sculpture. Buthirrirri is an emerging Dhalwaŋu artist who lives and works from the ancestral country of her homeland Gurrumuru 3.5 hours from Yirrkala. Watch this space! Aboriginal Culture, Aboriginal Art, Naidoc Week, Watch This Space, First Nations, Flapper Dress, Centre, The Incredibles, 5 Hours

Aboriginal Culture

Watch This Space

The Incredibles

ANKA

ANKA

In 2018, inspired by Dr Bentley James' book 'Maypal, Mayali' ga Wäŋa (shellfish, meaning & place)', Mulkun began to paint the essence of shellfish she has grown up with. This follows a similar phase where the artist explored lesser-known plant species which she feared were being forgotten by younger generations. The structure of the print shows the mangrove leaves that you see when moving through the 'gathul' or 'giraburra' (mangrove forest). Naidoc Week, Mangrove Forest, Plant Species, Etching, Doodles, Bentley, Zentangle, Younger, Artist

Mangrove Forest

ANKA

ANKA

Aboriginal artists to celebrate | Pinterest