Power and strength: Vincent Namatjira paintings on show

28 Oct 2023

Liz Hobday of National Indigenous Times highlights Vincent Namatjira’s first major survey exhibition Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour currently open at the Art Gallery of South Australia as part of Tarnanthi 2023.

“It’s unusual for a 40-year-old to score an institutional survey show, but Namatjira, who in 2020 became the first Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize with his portrait of former AFL player Adam Goodes, feels painting is something he’s been doing a long time.” says Hobday.

The exhibition is based on the last 10 years of his career, and in future Namatjira says he hopes to show more of his paintings overseas, with his vein of wry political painting just getting bigger and better.

Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour will be on view at Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide until 21 January 2024 and will tour to National Gallery of Australia, Canberra until 21 July 2024.

Image: Vincent Namatjira in front of Stand strong for who you are, 2020, acrylic on linen, 152 x 198 cm, in his survey exhibition Vincent Namatjira: Australia in colour, at the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. Photographed by Sam Roberts. Courtesy of Iwantjia Arts