Artists of Ampilatwatja

From the earliest days of our exhibition program, the Artists of Ampilatwatja have held a vital place at Michael Reid Southern Highlands. Working from their community on Alyawarr Country, approximately 320 kilometres north-east of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), these artists produce intricately layered paintings grounded in deep knowledge of land, culture and continuity. Their works map waterholes, bush medicines, desert flora and ancestral pathways through luminous fields of colour, and are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Australia and the Holmes à Court Collection.

The work of Ampilatwatja artists gives form to cultural knowledge passed down across generations. The paintings articulate specific places and stories, embedded in lived experience and cultural responsibility. While some knowledge remains protected, what is shared speaks clearly of connection, care and continuity. Today, Ampilatwatja painting is recognised as a significant and enduring contribution to contemporary Aboriginal art, sustained by artists ranging from young practitioners to senior Elders, and grounded in a deep relationship to Country.

This coming showcase features the work of Rita Pitjara Beasley, Nancy Pitjara Frank, Beverly Pula Luck, Diane Kemarre Ross, Selina Pula Teece.