Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 4

Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Emily Kame Kngwarreye « Anooralya Yam » 90x120cm - 1994 - aboriginal art

1994

$165,000
£123,247.10
€142,885.35
CA$229,098.38
A$256,789.78
CHF 133,702.91
MX$3,135,513.15
NOK 1,697,541.12
SEK 1,609,116.30
DKK 1,066,079.52
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910-1996) Title: « Anooralya Yam » 91x121 cm - 1993 Acrylic on canvas Aboriginal Art Australian Provenance: Delmore Gallery Aborigène Galerie Paris, France Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910 – 3 September 1996) was an Aboriginal Australian artist from the Utopia community in the Northern Territory. She is celebrated for her significant contributions to contemporary Indigenous Australian art, particularly for her prolific output and unique style developed later in life.​ Early Life and Background Born in 1910 in Alhalkere, in the Utopia region approximately 250 kilometers northeast of Alice Springs, Kngwarreye was a member of the Anmatyerre language group. She spent much of her early life working on cattle stations, including MacDonald Downs Homestead, where she was employed in domestic tasks and cattle mustering. Despite the challenges faced by Indigenous Australians during this period, Kngwarreye maintained a strong connection to her cultural heritage and ancestral lands.​ Artistic Journey Kngwarreye's artistic career began in the late 1970s when she joined the Utopia Women's Batik Group. Through this collective, she learned batik techniques, creating intricate designs on fabric that reflected her deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land. Her work in batik laid the foundation for her later transition to painting.​ In 1988, at approximately 78 years old, Kngwarreye began painting with acrylics on canvas as part of a project initiated by the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA). This transition marked the beginning of an extraordinarily prolific period; over the next eight years, she produced more than 3,000 paintings, averaging nearly one per day. Her work is characterized by vibrant colors, dynamic brushwork, and abstract representations of her Dreaming stories and Country.​ Artistic Style and Themes Kngwarreye's paintings are deeply rooted in her cultural identity and the spiritual narratives of her people. She often depicted the Dreaming stories associated with her ancestral lands, using a rich palette and expressive techniques to convey the interconnectedness of land, community, and spirituality. Her works range from intricate dot paintings to bold, linear compositions, reflecting the diverse aspects of her cultural heritage.​ Recognition and Achievements Kngwarreye's impact on the art world was profound. In 1992–93, she was awarded an Australian Artist's Creative Fellowship by Prime Minister Paul Keating and the Australia Council, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the arts. In 1997, she posthumously represented Australia at the Venice Biennale alongside artists Yvonne Koolmatrie and Judy Watson, showcasing the global significance of her work. Her paintings are held in major collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Tate Gallery in London.​ Kngwarreye's artworks have achieved remarkable success in the art market, setting records for Australian female artists and Indigenous art. Notable sales include:​ "Earth's Creation I" (1994): This monumental painting sold for A$1,056,000 in 2007, setting a record for an Australian female artist at that time. In 2017, it broke its own record, selling for A$2.1 million at a Cooee Art Gallery auction in Sydney. ​ Adrian Newstead (OAM) "Awelye" (1989): This work achieved a significant sale price of A$486,500 at a Sotheby's auction in 2000, reflecting the high demand for Kngwarreye's early paintings. ​ These sales underscore the enduring value and appreciation of Kngwarreye's art in both national and international markets.​ Emily Kame Kngwarreye's legacy endures through her profound influence on contemporary Indigenous art and her role in bringing Australian Aboriginal art to global prominence. Her innovative techniques and deep cultural expressions continue to inspire artists and captivate audiences worldwide.​ In 2023, the National Gallery of Australia sparked debate by altering the spelling of her name to Emily Kam Kngwarray for a retrospective exhibition, aiming to reflect updated linguistic conventions. This decision was met with mixed reactions, highlighting the complexities of honoring cultural heritage and individual legacy. ​ Art Leven Kngwarreye's work remains a testament to her extraordinary vision and the rich cultural tapestry of her people, securing her place as one of Australia's most significant and celebrated artists.​
  • Creator:
    Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910 - 1996, Aboriginal Australian)
  • Creation Year:
    1994
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35.83 in (91 cm)Width: 47.64 in (121 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    PARIS, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2847215825612

More From This Seller

View All
Yannima Tommy Watson "Ngayuku Ngura" - 91x122 cm -2013 - Aboriginal Art
By Yannima Tommy Watson
Located in PARIS, FR
Artist: Tommy Watson Yannima Pikarli (c.1935-2017) size: 91x122cm year: 2013 Acrylic on linen Aboriginal Art Provenance: Yanda Art, Australia (certificat) Aborigène Galerie Paris, ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Wingu Tingima "Kungkarrakalpa" 110x203cm - 2006 Aboriginal art
Located in PARIS, FR
Wingu Tingima (c.1920–2010) "Kungkarrakalpa" 110x203cm - 2006 Acrylic on linen Aboriginal art Provenance: Certificate of authenticity from arts centre Biography Wingu Tingima ...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Rhoda Tjitayi "Piltati Tjukurpa" 200x300cm - 2021 - Aboriginal Art
Located in PARIS, FR
Artist: RHODA TJITAYI, (1969 -), Titre: Piltati Tjukurpa 200x300 cm - 2021 Acrylique on canvas réf:15021AS Biography: Rhoda Tjitayi’s monumental paintings reflect the richness of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Rhoda Tjitayi "Piltati Tjukurpa" 200x300cm - 2021 - Aboriginal Art
Located in PARIS, FR
Artist: RHODA TJITAYI, (1969 -), Titre: Piltati Tjukurpa 200x300 cm - 2021 Acrylique on canvas réf:15021AS Biography: Rhoda Tjitayi’s monumental paintings reflect the richness of...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Ronnie Tjampitjinpa "Body paint designs" 121x153 cm - 1996 - Aboriginal Art
By Ronnie Tjampitjinpa
Located in PARIS, FR
Ronnie Tjampitjinpa (c.1943-2023) Size: 121x153 cm Year: 1996 Acrylic on canvas linen Aboriginal Art Provenance: Papunya Tula Artists Ronnie Tjampitjinpa was born around 1943 at Tji...
Category

Late 20th Century Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Acrylic

Rover Joolama Thomas "Marumaru" (Black One) Aboriginal Art 60x90 cm 1996
By Rover Thomas Joolama
Located in PARIS, FR
Rover Thomas Joolama (c.1926-1998) Title: "Marumaru" (Black One) Dimensions: 60x90 cm - Year: 1996 Natural pigments on linen canvas Provenance: Art Centre Warmun (Stamp back...
Category

20th Century Contemporary Paintings

Materials

Pigment

You May Also Like

Australian Aboriginal Painting by Emily Kame Kngwarreye Provenance
By Emily Kngwarreye
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning large painting by one of the best-known aboriginal painters from Australia Emily Kame Kngwarreye. It was created in 1990s and depicts one of her dreaming "Wildflower Dream...
Category

Late 20th Century Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Aboriginal Painting by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
By Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
Located in Miami, FL
Michael Nelson Tjakamarra (also cited as: Michael Nelson Jagamarra, or Jakamara) is a Senior Warlpiri Tribesman and an Elder of the Papunya Community in central Australia. Born c. 1949 at Pikilyi, Vaughan Springs west of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, he grew up ‘in the bush’. His father was an important tribal elder and medicine man at Yuendumu. It was therefore automatic that he would grow up with the traditional values and knowledge that now influences his paintings. Michael lived at Haasts Bluff until his parents took him to Yuendumu for European education at the mission school. He left school at thirteen, after initiation, and worked at buffalo shooting, driving trucks, droving cattle and in the army, before returning to Yuendumu and then to Papunya to settle in 1976. He worked for a time in the Government store and for the Council. Michael learned to paint at Papunya by observing the senior men such as Billy Stockman and Old Mick Tjakamarra. Although he was tutored by his uncle, Jack Tjupurrula, Michael developed his own style and began painting earnestly from 1983. Michael is known as master desert painter for his depiction of several Dreamings in one painting. For him the understanding of the Dreaming stories that go with his paintings is all important – without the stories his paintings would ‘mean nothing’ as far as he is concerned. His Dreamings include the Possum, Snake, Two Kangaroos, Rock Wallaby, Bush Banana, Honey Ant and Yam. In 1984 Michael won the National Aboriginal Art Award with his painting ‘Three Dreamings’. His reputation as a painter rose rapidly after this. He exhibited his work in the 1986 Biennale of Sydney and featured in ‘The State of the Art’, a British art documentary. In 1987 Michael had been asked to paint a major work (27’long) to decorate the foyer of Sydney’s Opera House and he chose to paint his ‘Possum Dreaming’ story. A great highlight in Michael’s career was in 1988 when he was commissioned to design a 196 sq-metre mosaic in the main forecourt of Australia’s new Parliament House in Canberra. The work was based on his ‘Kangaroo and Emu’ dreaming. Michael was presented to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11...
Category

2010s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Linen, Acrylic

Western Macdonnel Ranges
By Dorothy Napangardi
Located in Long Island City, NY
Dorothy Napangardi was one of the leading Australian Aboriginal artists who has had her work hung at museums around the world. On the verso of this ...
Category

1970s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sandy Hunter Petyarre - Aboriginal Art Painting
By Sandy Hunter Petyarre
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Sandy Hunter Petyarre 1994 150 x 90 cm Group Anmatyerre - Utopia - Central Desert Sandy Hunter Petyarre was born in 1953. She is one of the few artists to continue painting w...
Category

Abstract Geometric Abstract Paintings

WORM DREAMING Aboriginal Papunya Australian Female Artist SONDA NAMPIJINPA 1988
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Papunya Tula Artists Pty. Ltd., Alice Springs The Holmes Court Collection, Perth Austral Gallery, Saint Louis, MO; acquired in 1996; Richard Kelton Collection, Santa Monica; Exhibite...
Category

1980s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic Polymer

Large Stunning Australian Aboriginal Painting by Naata Nungurrayi
By Naata Nungurrayi
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large and stunning contemporary abstract painting by celebrated Australian Aboriginal artist Naata Nungurrayi (1932-2021), stretched and ready for display. A rare masterpiece of the museum quality dating from the peak of the artist's creative output in 2003. The canvas is singular in both the impressive size and tine quality, and it comes with full provenance and step by step photos (100 in total) recording the creation of this significant piece of work. The artist used fine dots as the sole element to compose a complex dreamtime landscape where Women's Ceremony took place in her ancestral time. The place is located at Marrapinti and its surrounds, where many water soakage holes were located. Dots in brilliant shifting and contrasting colors form ceremonial Tingari symbols performed by the women, black crawling tracks that may be associated with a site called Karilywarra (two carpet snakes) and mesmerizing Tali (sandhill) movements surrounding the canvas. The work is of the signature style of the artist, singular and easily recognizable. The fine quality of this work is exemplary. Medium: acrylic on Belgium Linen Cat no. NN200315 Provenance: Yanda Aboriginal Art, NT. The painting comes with a COA letter and an artist biograph issued by Yanda Aboriginal Art and a presentation album with 100 photos that documented the entire process of the creation of this large work of art. The edge of the painting bears name of the artist as well as the stamp of the gallery as shown. Reference and further reading: For a relevant work by the artist, See Plate 88 and Page 220-222 in the book "Past and Present Together: Fifty Years of Papunya Tula Artists" by Meyers and Skerritt. Another similar work is illustrated on plate 13 in "Pintupi" by Hamiltons. Artist's biography: Naata Nungurrayi (1932-2021) is an Australian Aboriginal artist who was born at the site of Kumil, west of the Pollock Hills in Western Australia. She is from the Pintupi group from Kintore, Northern Territory and is one of the senior elders of the Kintore women artist movement. Naata is the sister of George Tjungurrayi and Nancy Nungurrayi, and her son is Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas