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Aboriginal Paintings

Aboriginal paintings are a rich and varied art form. This online gallery offers a fine selection of Australian Aboriginal paintings by artists from communities in the Kimberley, Central and Western Desert and Top End (including Arnhem Land) regions of Australia.

The variety of painting styles in the regions is described in our Regions and communities section.

Paintings are arranged by regions - click on the link to see paintings from a particular region. If you want to read a short biography of the one of the artists, go to the Art and Artists section of our Website.

The prices below are in Australian dollars and do not include packing, delivery and insurance - use the "Enquire" button to confirm availability of a painting and the cost of delivery. To check the equivalent price in other currencies, use the Currency Conversion link.

Rosie Mulligan

Title:	Kakuru
Price:	$605.00 in Australia $550.00 for Export.
PA793, 2008
Natural ochre and pigments on canvas
60 x 80 cm

Kakuru is the Walmajarri word for freshwater mussels. Kakuru were an important food source when people lived a traditional lifestyle. They were dug from the sand in waterways near Lake Gregory in the Great Sandy Desert.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Alma Nungarrayi Granites

Title:	Yanjirlpirri or Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa
Price:	$1000.00 in Australia and Export.
PA827, 2015
Acrylic on canvas
61 x 76 cm

The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa man ‘wardilyka’ (the bush turkey) who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnu and who represents the Orion’s Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) tells of the journey of Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri (west of Yuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the West Australian border. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiation ceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the ‘kurdiji’. The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star) where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importance of this place cannot be overemphasized as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjanjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu to the north.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Agnes Nampijinpa Fry

Title:	Yankirri Tjukurrpa
Price:	$450.00 in Australia and Export.
PA829, 2015
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 76 cm

This particular site of the Yankirri Jukurrpa (emu Dreaming) is at Ngarlikurlangu, north of Yuendumu. The ‘yankirri’ travelled to the rockhole at Ngarlikurlangu to find water. Emus are usually represented by their ‘wirliya’ (footprints), arrow-like shapes that show them walking around Ngarlikurlangu eating ‘yakajirri’ (bush raisin). In the time of the Jukurrpa there was a fight at Ngarlikiurlangu between a ‘yankirri’ ancestor and Wardilyka (Australian bustard) ancestors over sharing the ‘yakajirri’. There is also a dance for this Jukurrpa that is performed during initiation ceremonies.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Lola Nampijinpa Brown

Title:	Ngapa Jukurrpa - Water Dreaming
Price:	$500.00 in Australia and Export.
PA825, 2016
Acrylic on canvas
61 x 61 cm

The country associated with this ‘ngapa Jukurrpa’ (water Dreaming) is Mikanji, a watercourse west of Yuendumu that is usually dry. There are ‘mulju’ (soakages) in this creek bed. Mikanji is an important water Dreaming site, and features in at least three different water Dreaming tracks. In one story, the water Dreaming travelled from Puyurru, northwest of Yuendumu, to a ‘mulju’ (soakage) in the Mikanji creek. It unleashed a huge storm there. Two old blind women of the Nampijinpa skin group were sitting by the side of the soakages. As the two women strained their eyes to see the sky, tears formed in their eyes, creating the rain. Their spirits can still be seen at Mikanji in the form of two ‘ngapiri’ (river red gums) growing near the soakage. A second water Dreaming track passes through Mikanji and travels further west. At Mikanji, the storm rained so hard it created a hole in the ground which became a soakage. At Mirawarri a ‘kirrkarlanji’ (brown falcon) picked up the storm and carried it on its wings to the west until it became too heavy for it. The falcon eventually dropped the storm at Pirlinyarnu (Mt. Farewell) about 165 km west of Yuendumu, where it formed an enormous ‘maluri’ (claypan). A ‘mulju’ (soakage) exists in this place today. A third Dreaming track that passes through Mikanji is the story of the water Dreaming and ‘pamapardu Jukurrpa’ (termite Dreaming). This Dreaming travels further north. The termite and water Dreamings travelled together from Warntungurru in the east past Warlura (a waterhole 8 miles east of Yuendumu), Wirnpa, Kanaralji, Ngamangama, and Jukajuka. A portion of this Dreaming track also includes the ‘kurdukurdu mangkurdu Jukurrpa’ (children of the clouds Dreaming). The termite Dreaming moved on to the west to Nyirrpi, a community approximately 160 km west of Yuendumu, whereas the water Dreaming travelled on to Mikanji. A ‘kirrkarlanji’ (brown falcon) eventually picked up the water and tied it to its head using hairstring. The falcon travelled north with the water Dreaming; at Puyurru, it flew under a tree and the water fell off of its head, forming a soakage there. The Dreaming then travelled on through other locations before moving on into Gurindji country to the north.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Wendy Nungarrayi Brown

Title:	Yanjirlpirri or Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa
Price:	$750.00 in Australia and Export.
PA818, 2016
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 122 cm

The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) is the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijinpa man ‘wardilyka’ (the bush turkey) who is in love with the Napaljarri-warnu and who represents the Orion’s Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-jukurra, the morning star, is a Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra the Napaljarri-warnu turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming) tells of the journey of Japaljarri and Jungarrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri (west of Yuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the West Australian border. Along the way they performed ‘kurdiji’ (initiation ceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the ‘kurdiji’. The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlypiri (star) where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importance of this place cannot be overemphasized as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as Pitjanjatjara country to the south and Lajamanu to the north.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Jeanie Napangardi Lewis

Title:	Mina Mina Jukurrpa
Price:	$1000.00 in Australia and Export.
PA811, 2015
Acrylic on canvas
61 x 122 cm

The country associated with this Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the west of Yuendumu. The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the east gathering food, collecting ‘ngalyipi’ (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled east creating Janyinki and other sites. Their journey took them far to the east beyond the boundaries of Warlpiri country. The ‘ngalyipi’ vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the ‘kurrkara’ (desert oak) trees. ‘Ngalyipi’ is a sacred vine to Napangardi and Napanangka women that has many uses. It can be used as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry ‘parrajas’ (wooden bowls) that are laden with bush tucker and as a tourniquet for headaches

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Jennifer Napaljarri Lewis

Title:	Lukarrara Jukurrpa - Desert Fringe-rush Seed Dreaming
Price:	$650.00 in Australia and Export.
PA803, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
46 x 107 cm

This Dreaming is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu. Lukarrara (desert fringe-rush) is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone (‘ngatinyanu’) with a smaller stone (‘ngalikirri’) to make flour. This flour is mixed with water (‘ngapa’) to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed bearing grass Lukurrara. ‘U’ shapes can depict the Karnta (women) collecting ‘lukarrara’ and straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall down to the ground and are also collected by women using their ‘parrajas’ (wooden food carriers) and ‘karlangu’ (digging sticks).

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

Kutungka Napanangka

Title:	Hunting brown snake
Price:	$1000.00 in Australia and Export.
PA954, 2002
Acrylic on linen canvas
82 x 153 cm

This work shows women hunting brown snake along a rocky escarpment. The brown snakes are quick and disappear down into the rockholes.

Delivery charge for this item:
Australia	$33
North America	$77
Europe/Other	$77
Asia/Pacific	$66

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