Warlayirti Artists

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In 1987 the art cooperative Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation was founded in [url=/regionen/balgo target=_self]Balgo[url], which has since grown enormously, particularly after they moved into a new building in the 90’s.

It represents artists from Balgo, Mulan and Billiluna on the northwest edge of the Tanami Desert. The former mission here had a huge parish, so that the artists all come from an area stretching from the sand dunes of the Great Sandy Desert in the south and west to the great waterways in the north.

The art center is culturally and spiritually the driving force in the region and belongs to the three old-established art centres in the Central and Western Deserts.

Warlayirti Artists are renowned for their vibrant and bold use of colour, their signature being brilliant yellows, oranges and reds.

Balgo has produced some of the leading indigenous artists of Australia, for example Eubena Nampitjin, Elizabeth Nyumi and Helicopter Tjungurrayi. Nora Wompi, one of the senior artists, is also being showered with kudos for her very bold style. Additionally, the second generation of Balgo artists has developed some of its own charming art. Amongst them Christine Yukenbarri, Pauline Sunfly, Theresa and Geraldine Nowee, Imelda Gugaman, Joan Nagomara and Brian Mudgedell are the ones most admired by the German audience.


Photos (f.l.t.r.): Nora Wompi in front of the art centre © Warlayirti Artists
 Joan Eva Nagomara © Warlayirti Artists
 Eubena Nampitjin in the studio © Warlayirti Artists