Alice Springs: Araluen Cultural Precinct

The Albert Namatjira Gallery is found inside the Araluen Arts Centre.

The gallery is named after the Aboriginal watercolourist Albert Namatjira who began painting during the 1930s. 

Namatjira was the first Aboriginal artist from Central Australia to be recognised nationally and internationally for the way his works captured the light, colour, beauty and essence of Central Australia.

The gallery showcases Namatjira's watercolours, along with works by his contemporaries and the subsequent generations of watercolourists who have continued his tradition. 

This gallery also provides an insight to the diversity, evolution and innovation of Aboriginal art from Central Australia. 

It includes works from the following collections:

• Araluen Art Collection 
• Rex Battarbee Collection owned by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 
• Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation Collection 
• Papunya School Collection 
• Warlukurlangu Collection 
• Keringke Arts Collection.

A key feature is important Papunya boards from the early 1970s, which mark the beginning of the Western Desert art movement. These reflect major developments in contemporary Aboriginal art. 

Other works exhibited in the gallery include more recent contemporary Aboriginal art, including sculpture and acrylic paintings from a number of Central Australian Aboriginal communities.

These works show the energy and vibrancy of this art movement, supported by Aboriginal-owned art centres. Many of these works have been acquired from the annual Desert Mob exhibition, held at Araluen Arts Centre since 1991. 

The Albert Namatjira Gallery will give you a unique chance to see art from some of the most important Aboriginal art movements and contemporary Aboriginal artists from Central Australia.

The works exhibited show the diversity and richness of Aboriginal art from this region. It highlights the intimate knowledge held by the artists of the country, its stories and ceremonies.