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Adrian was born at Papunya in 1962 and remembers the genesis of the modern Indigenous art movement whilst watching Geoff Bardon, the then young schoolteacher seconded to Papunya, who working alongside the early Western Desert male painters started the Indigenous artistic explosion and helped facilitate the creation of the early 1970s “Papunya Boards”.
Adrian’s fathers’ country travels from west of Walungurru through Karku at Nyirrpi to Warlurkurlangu at Yuendumu. His father, Jampitjinpa, lived at Mount Doreen close to Yuendumu and later worked at Papunya as a Gardener and Builder.
Jampitjinpa was a brother to the late Darby Ross Jampitjinpa, sharing the same mother and father and Adrian’s mother is the late Eunice Napangardi, a well-known painter herself from the Ikuntji Art Centre in Haast Bluff. Indeed, it is her country, Yalpirakinu, that Adrian paints repeatedly in his art works.
So, one could argue that Adrian’s eventual path to celebrated artist was in “the blood” from birth and should not have come as any major surprise when it eventuated!
Adrian is predominantly a landscape painter whose artworks consistently refer to the desert mountains, ridges and trees which are part of the aforementioned Yalpirakinu, though in recent years he has spread his wings into portraiture too, depicting mostly family and, now and again, himself.
Yalpirakinu is Adrian's mother's country. Adrian's mother is the late Eunice Napangardi, a well-known painter herself.
His paintings consistently refer to the desert mountains, ridges and trees which are part of Yalpirakinu.
Using a restricted colour palette, Adrian's brushwork is loaded with energy, drama and memories.
He is a deliberate and thoughtful painter; reworking, pushing and pulling the image to completion.
The current exhibition at our gallery is a rare opportunity to see the works of Adrian Robertson,
a renowned artist who explores the themes of the desert mountains, ridges and trees which are part of Yalpirakinu.
The brochure will provide you with a deeper insight into his artistic vision, as well as the details of each artwork on display.
By downloading the brochure, you will be able to appreciate the exhibition more fully and discover the meaning behind each painting.
His brushwork is loaded with energy, drama, and memories. He is a deliberate and thoughtful painter; reworking, pushing, and pulling the image to completion. Equally comfortable on both canvases as he is on paper as a medium, Adrian is most at home on smaller sized works. This allows a concentrated focus on “Tjukurpa”, though he does venture onto larger canvases from time to time.
Adrian joined Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists in 2002 and for many years quietly witnessed the triumphant rise of a fellow Indigenous artist of the cooperative, Billy Benn Perrule.
He watched, learnt, practiced and gradually developed into an accomplished artist in his own right. However, it was not until Mr. Benn passed that Adrian’s career really started to blossom and flourish, as if the passing of his mentor had unchained the invisible shackles allowing him to step forward and carry the baton for the community art centre and its important role in maintain and protecting culture.
In more recent years Adrian has achieved many national accolades, winning both the Alice Prize in 2022, becoming the artist of the Year - 2021 in the Mparntwe NAIDOC Awards and, perhaps most famously, winning the NATSIAA’s General Painting Award winner in 2020.
Despite the accolades and strong interest in his work, this is only Adrian’s 4th solo show, and the first away from the Alice Spring’s locally based Raft Art Space. It is an immense pleasure to be able to expand his exhibition profile into Asia, and further afield, and we hope his whimsical works bring joy and happiness to a new audience wherever they may be.
Mwerre Anthurre Art
"Beautiful Art Made Proper Way"
-Billy Benn Perrurle
Adrian Robertson
Adrian Robertson
Adrian Robertson is a widely respected Warlpiri man and prolific artist from the Central Western Desert region of Australia. His country travels from west of Walungurru through Karku at Nyirrpi to Warlurkurlangu at Yuendumu. Adrian is well-known for his landscape and portrait paintings made using a restricted palette. He is a deliberate and thoughtful painter; reworking, pushing, and pulling the image to completion. A confident artist, Adrian, enthusiastically advances his practice, experimenting with new techniques and mediums to portray his mother’s country Yalpirakinu and recalls of family on country.
Adrian is a long-standing member of the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists and since 2002 he has never skipped a beat. He is in the studio daily, with a page or canvas in front of him, eager to conceptualise through bold mark-making and colour, his memories and deep connection to country.
As a boy attending school in Papunya, Adrian remembers Geoff Bardon working as a schoolteacher alongside the early Western Desert painters. He has since enjoyed strong artistic influences throughout his life including his uncle, the late Darby Ross Jampijinpa and his mother, the late Eunice Napangardi. Upon joining the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, Adrian worked alongside his greatest mentor and friend, the late Billy Benn Perrurle.
accomplished artist, Adrian has exhibited nationally and internationally. In 2020 he won the NATSIAA General Painting Award, and more recently he won the Artist of the Year, Mparntwe NAIDOC awards (2021), and the prestigious Alice Prize, Mparntwe National Contemporary Art Award (2022).
"BINDI MWERRE ANTHURRE ARTS" is a notable and impactful organization, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Aboriginal art and culture in Australia. The name itself reflects the organization's commitment to empowering Indigenous artists and communities.
BINDI MWERRE ANTHURRE ARTS, often referred to as "Bindi Arts," is an Aboriginal-owned and operated art center located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Founded in the early 1990s, the organization emerged as a response to the need for a supportive platform for local Aboriginal artists to share their stories, traditions, and art with the broader community.
The name translates to "Everyone’s Art" in the Arrernte language, underlining their inclusive and community-focused approach.
It serves as a vital conduit for preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous people. It offers artists a platform to express their stories, knowledge, and traditions through art, ensuring that these cultural treasures are passed down to future generations.
The organization empowers its members by providing them with the necessary resources, materials, and skills development opportunities. This empowerment not only sustains Indigenous art but also generates economic independence for the artists.
Bindi Arts supports a wide range of artistic expressions, including painting, sculpture, textiles, and more. This diversity reflects the depth and breadth of Indigenous art, allowing artists to explore various mediums while staying true to their cultural roots.
They encourage cultural exchange, inviting artists from different Aboriginal communities to collaborate and share their experiences and techniques. This not only fosters artistic growth but also strengthens the sense of community among artists.
They also provide artists with access to national and international art markets, ensuring that their works reach a global audience. This market access benefits both the artists and the wider Indigenous community.
Many artists associated with Bindi Arts have received critical acclaim and awards for their work, with their artworks exhibited in prestigious galleries worldwide, none more so that Billy Benn Perrurle who propelled the community to national and international recognition.
The organization has played a significant role in the revival and continuation of traditional art forms and stories that were at risk of being lost.
BINDI MWERRE ANTHURRE ARTS stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment for Indigenous artists in Australia. By nurturing the art and culture of Indigenous communities, the organization enriches the lives of artists and the broader society.
Bindi Arts is not just an art center; it's a cultural lifeline, connecting the past, present, and future of the Indigenous people, and it deserves recognition for its unwavering dedication to this noble cause.
Adrian was born at Papunya in 1962. He went to school in Papunya and remembers Geoff Bardon as a school teacher and working alongside the early Western Desert painters. Adrian's fathers' country travels from west of Walungurru through Karku at Nyirrpi to Warlurkurlangu at Yuendumu. His father, Jampitjinpa, lived at Mount Doreen close to Yuendumu and later worked at Papunya as a Gardener and Builder. Jampitjinpa is a brother to the late Darby Ross Jampitjinpa, sharing the same mother and father. Adrian's mother is the late Eunice Napangardi, a well known painter herself. It is her country, Yalpirakinu, that Adrian paints.
Adrian joined The Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Arrsts in 2002. He is a landscape painter and uses a predominantly restricted palette. His paintings consistently refer to the desert mountains, ridges and trees which are part of Yalpirakinu. His brushwork is loaded with energy, drama and memories. He is a deliberate and thoughtful painter; reworking, pushing and pulling the image to completion.
Adrian Robertson is a widely respected Warlpiri man and prolific artist from the Central Western Desert region of Australia. His country travels from west of Walungurru through Karku at Nyirrpi to Warlurkurlangu at Yuendumu. Adrian is well-known for his landscape and portrait paintings made using a restricted palette. He is a deliberate and thoughtful painter; reworking, pushing, and pulling the image to completion. A confident artist, Adrian, enthusiastically advances his practice, experimenting with new techniques and mediums to portray his mother’s country Yalpirakinu and recalls of family on country.
Adrian is a long-standing member of the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists and since 2002 he has never skipped a beat. He is in the studio daily, with a page or canvas in front of him, eager to conceptualise through bold mark-making and colour, his memories and deep connection to country.
As a boy attending school in Papunya, Adrian remembers Geoff Bardon working as a schoolteacher alongside the early Western Desert painters. He has since enjoyed strong artistic influences throughout his life including his uncle, the late Darby Ross Jampijinpa and his mother, the late Eunice Napangardi. Upon joining the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, Adrian worked alongside his greatest mentor and friend, the late Billy Benn Perrurle.
An accomplished artist, Adrian has exhibited nationally and internationally. In 2020 he won the NATSIAA General Painting Award, and more recently he won the Artist of the Year, Mparntwe NAIDOC awards (2021), and the prestigious Alice Prize, Mparntwe National Contemporary Art Award (2022).
Courtesy of the Mwerre Anthurre Artists (Bindi Inc)