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‘Namatjira to Now’
Oct 2008 - Feb 2009

Irene Mbitjana Entata / Arrernte/Luritja people / Australia NT 1946–2014 / Albert and Rex painting (detail) 2003 / Purchased 2003. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / © Irene Mbitjana Entata

The great Albert Namatjira's adoption of the European medium of watercolour for his landscape paintings remains an inspiration to contemporary artists from Ntaria (Hermannsburg) and surrounding regions of Central Australia. Since the 1930s, artists there have been producing vibrant and highly regarded art that has made their country celebrated throughout Australia.

‘Namatjira to Now’ highlighted work by Indigenous Australian artists from the Hermannsburg School, including watercolours from the original and subsequent generations, ceramics and acrylic paintings on canvas. 

In this resource, find out more about works from the QAGOMA Collection featured in this exhibition. 

‘Namatjira to Now’ was on display at QAG from 23 October 2008 to 15 February 2009. A touring version (2009–11) visited galleries in Stanthorpe, Winton, Ipswich, Redcliffe, Noosa, Dalby, Bundaberg, Gympie, Mackay and the Gold Coast.



Feature image: Irene Mbitjana Entata / Arrernte/Luritja people / Australia NT 1946–2014 / Albert and Rex painting (detail) 2003 / Purchased 2003. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / © Irene Mbitjana Entata

Collection artworks featured in ‘Namatjira to Now’

Artwork Portrait of Albert Namatjira this artwork made of Oil on canvas, created in 1956-01-01

Portrait of Albert Namatjira 1956
Artwork Central Australian landscape this artwork made of Watercolour on wove paper, created in 1936-01-01

Central Australian landscape 1936
Artwork (Central Australian landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on paper on cardboard, created in 1947-01-01

(Central Australian landscape) 1947
Artwork Artyetyerre - Harts Range this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2008-01-01

Artyetyerre - Harts Range 2008
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

(Hermannsburg range) 1950s
Artwork Corkwood tree on fringe of mulga, Central Australia this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1955-01-01

Corkwood tree on fringe of mulga, Central Australia c.1955-68
Artwork (Ghost gums and mountain range) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1955-01-01

(Ghost gums and mountain range) c.1955-68
Artwork (Ghost gums) this artwork made of Watercolour on smooth cream wove paper on paperboard, created in 1955-01-01

(Ghost gums) c.1955-68
Artwork Range country this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on wove paper, created in 1955-01-01

Range country c.1955-68
Artwork The three gums this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper, created in 1955-01-01

The three gums c.1955-68
Artwork (Ghost gums and mountain) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1955-01-01

(Ghost gums and mountain) c.1955-68
Artwork The ceremonial ground this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on cream smooth wove paper, created in 1960-01-01

The ceremonial ground c.1965
Artwork Red plateau this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper on paperboard, created in 1955-01-01

Red plateau c.1955-62
Artwork Western MacDonnell Ranges, near Ormiston Gorge this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper on paperboard, created in 1955-01-01

Western MacDonnell Ranges, near Ormiston Gorge c.1955-62
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Palm Valley c.1955-62
Artwork Ghost gums, MacDonnell Ranges this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper on paperboard, created in 1955-01-01

Ghost gums, MacDonnell Ranges c.1955-62
Artwork MacDonnell Ranges this artwork made of Watercolour on paper with board backing, created in 2009-01-01

MacDonnell Ranges 2009
Artwork Ghost gums and mountain range this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper on paperboard, created in 1955-01-01

Ghost gums and mountain range c.1955-62
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Valley through Red Rock Gorge c.1959
Artwork Western MacDonnells this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on cream smooth wove paper, created in 1940-01-01

Western MacDonnells c.1945
Artwork Fenns Gap, MacDonnell Ranges this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper on cardboard, created in 1936-01-01

Fenns Gap, MacDonnell Ranges c.1936-47
Artwork Twa-tarra this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1938-01-01

Twa-tarra c.1938-39
Artwork Mt Hermannsburg this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper, created in 1946-01-01

Mt Hermannsburg c.1946-51
Artwork Mt Hermannsburg, James Range this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on thin cream wove paper, created in 1944-01-01

Mt Hermannsburg, James Range c.1946
Artwork (Ghost gums and mountains) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1940-01-01

(Ghost gums and mountains) c.1945
Artwork (The Finke River Gorge at entrance to Glen Helen) this artwork made of Watercolour and gouache over pencil on thick wove paper, created in 1945-01-01

(The Finke River Gorge at entrance to Glen Helen) c.1945-53
Artwork Central Mount Wedge this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on wove paper loosely attached to composition board, created in 1945-01-01

Central Mount Wedge 1945
Artwork (Mt Sonder) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper on cardboard, created in 1945-01-01

(Mt Sonder) c.1950
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

The road to Hermannsburg along the Fink

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Rock outcrop, Kings Creek, Central Australia c.1939
Artwork Rocky hills this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper on cardboard

Rocky hills

Artwork (Ghost gums and mountain range) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth wove paper on cardboard

(Ghost gums and mountain range)

Artwork (Hermannsburg landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper on cardboard, created in 1947-01-01

(Hermannsburg landscape) 1950s
Artwork (Family of gums, Central Australia) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1965-01-01

(Family of gums, Central Australia) c.1965-69
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Ghost gums c.1948-62
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

(Ghost gums) 1950s
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Yappa-palm paddock, James Range, Central Australia c.1951
Artwork (Ghost gums and mountain) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream paper on cardboard

(Ghost gums and mountain)

Artwork MacDonnell Ranges this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on cardboard, created in 1954-01-01

MacDonnell Ranges mid 1950s
Artwork (Mount Sonder) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on cream wove paper on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

(Mount Sonder) c.1955
Artwork Colours of Central Australia this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1957-01-01

Colours of Central Australia c.1957-58
Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper mounted on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

(Landscape) c.1950s
Artwork (Landscape) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper mounted on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

(Landscape) c.1950s
Artwork (James Range country) this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 1965-01-01

(James Range country) c.1965-70
Artwork West of the range this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on wove paper on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

West of the range early 1950s
Artwork Camel patrol, Central Australia this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream wove paper, created in 1950-01-01

Camel patrol, Central Australia early 1950s
Artwork (Mount Hermannsburg) this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on smooth cream paper on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

(Mount Hermannsburg) 1950s-60s
Artwork Untitled this artwork made of Watercolour on wove paper on cardboard, created in 1950-01-01

Untitled c.1950-60
Artwork Ormiston Gorge this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2007-01-01

Ormiston Gorge 2007
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

The Pipes - Glen Helen 2007
Artwork Standley Chasm this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Standley Chasm 2008
Artwork Boggy Hole, Finke River this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Boggy Hole, Finke River 2008
Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

West MacDonnell Ranges 2008
Artwork Glen Helen Gorge this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Glen Helen Gorge 2008
Artwork Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges this artwork made of Watercolour on paper, created in 2008-01-01

Ormiston Gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges 2008
Artwork Waterbirds this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2002-01-01

Waterbirds 2002
Artwork Mount Hermannsburg this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2002-01-01

Mount Hermannsburg 2002
Artwork Mount Sonder and possums this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2003-01-01

Mount Sonder and possums 2003
Artwork (Emu and chicks) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, created in 2002-01-01

(Emu and chicks) 2002
Artwork Mission days this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2002-01-01

Mission days 2002
Artwork Albert and Rex painting this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on linen, created in 2003-01-01

Albert and Rex painting 2003
Artwork Pmere (My country) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and synthetic polymer paint, created in 1996-01-01

Pmere (My country) 1996
Artwork Pot: Reelpa (Drovers) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: Reelpa (Drovers) 2002
Artwork Pot: Cows this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 2000-01-01

Pot: Cows 2000
Artwork Pot: (Ant on climbing plant) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: (Ant on climbing plant) 2002
Artwork Pot: Footy (Lions vs Bombers) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2004-01-01

Pot: Footy (Lions vs Bombers) 2004
Artwork Pot: Mission days this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2005-01-01

Pot: Mission days 2005
Artwork Pot: Pmere Nuka (My country) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 1994-01-01

Pot: Pmere Nuka (My country) 1994
Artwork Pot: Pmere Nuka (My country) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 1994-01-01

Pot: Pmere Nuka (My country) 1994
Artwork Pot: Eeritja (Eagles) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 1997-01-01

Pot: Eeritja (Eagles) 1997
Artwork Pot: Lorikeets this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 1996-01-01

Pot: Lorikeets 1996
Artwork Pot: Ilia (Emu) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: Ilia (Emu) 2002
Artwork Pot: Eeritja (Eagle) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 2001-01-01

Pot: Eeritja (Eagle) 2001
Artwork Pot: Enalaunga (Echidna) family this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2004-01-01

Pot: Enalaunga (Echidna) family 2004
Artwork Pot: Kangaroo this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 1996-01-01

Pot: Kangaroo 1996
Artwork Pot: (Bush orange) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: (Bush orange) 2002
Artwork Owl this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and synthetic polymer paint, created in 1996-01-01

Owl 1996
Artwork Pot: Eerarnta (Black cockatoo) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 2000-01-01

Pot: Eerarnta (Black cockatoo) 2000
Artwork Pot: Tompa (Perentie) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: Tompa (Perentie) 2002
Artwork Pot: (Butterfly) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: (Butterfly) 2002
Artwork Pot: Kuparda (Bush plum) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2002-01-01

Pot: Kuparda (Bush plum) 2002
Artwork Tompa (Perentie) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 1997-01-01

Tompa (Perentie) 1997
Artwork Pot: Kookaburras this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2004-01-01

Pot: Kookaburras 2004
Artwork Ankarta (Frill-necked lizard) this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2005-01-01

Ankarta (Frill-necked lizard) 2005
Artwork Sand dunes at Papunya this artwork made of Hand-built terracotta clay with incised white slip beneath clear glaze, created in 2007-01-01

Sand dunes at Papunya 2007
Artwork Ntaria Garage this artwork made of Hand-built terracotta clay with incised white slip beneath clear glaze, created in 2007-01-01

Ntaria Garage 2007
Artwork Koprillia Day at Hermannsburg this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2007-01-01

Koprillia Day at Hermannsburg 2007
Artwork Owl this artwork made of Earthenware, hand-built terracotta clay with underglaze colours and applied decoration, created in 2005-01-01

Owl 2005
Artwork Mulga plaque (Greetings from South West Patrol) this artwork made of Pokerwork and black ink on mulga wood, created in 1932-01-01

Mulga plaque (Greetings from South West Patrol) 1932
Artwork Palm Valley this artwork made of Watercolour over pencil on woomera wood; carved wood with stone, spinifex resin

Palm Valley c.1945

Related digital stories

Albert Namatjira / Arrernte people / Australia NT 1902–59 / (Ghost gums and mountains) c.1945 / Bequest of Cedric Powne 1979 / © Namatjira Legacy Trust/Copyright Agency

DIDACTIC: ‘Namatjira to Now’

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Portrait of an Indigenous man with a cloudy sky behind him

BIO: Albert Namatjira

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ESSAY: Albert Namatjira’s family

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Vibrant watercolour painting of the central Australian desert

ESSAY: Namatjira’s painting group

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