Artists and Galleries
There are four galleries and art centres you can visit whilst you’re travelling along and nearby to the Canning Stock Route. These spaces ensure the artists are paid for their work. Learn more about each of the centres below.
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo
Situated on the edge of the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts in north Western Australia, Balgo is a small community of around 350 people. Warlayirti Artists represents more than 200 artists across three communities in the Kutjungka region — Kururrungku (Billiluna), Mulan, and Wirrimanu (Balgo) representing seven main language groups: Kukatja, Walmatjarri, Ngarti, Jaru, Wangkatjunga, Pintupi and Warlpiri.
An Aboriginal owned corporation, Warlayirti Artists, is one of Australia’s leading Indigenous art centres whose artists have a reputation for producing uniquely individual and vibrant paintings: specialising in fine art paintings, as well as prints on paper, photography and digital video.
As well as a large art gallery and painting studio, Warlayirti is also made up of a Culture and New Media Centre, which support the passing on of both tjukurrpa (dreaming) and contemporary stories from the Kutjungka through displays of artefacts as well as an ongoing film, photography and music program.
Warlayirti Artists is generally open to the public Monday to Friday 10-4pm. Weekends are by appointment only. Tour groups should contact us in advance before visiting to ensure that visitors have the best possible experience with the Art Centre and artists.
Permits are no longer required for entry into the community. Copyright by-laws, however, restrict some photography/film in the community and in the Art Centre, but all details can be explained when you get to Warlayirti.
Balgo community is accessible off the Tanami Track, take the Balgo turn off and follow the Access Rd (31kms) to the community. Balgo is 3.5hrs from Halls Creek and 9hrs from Alice Springs off the Tanami Track.
Ph: 0407 123 478 | www.balgoart.org.au
Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency, Fitzroy Crossing
Mangkaja Arts is a vibrant Aboriginal owned art centre located in the township of Fitzroy Crossing, 400kms east of Broome in the great Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Mangkaja is the Walmajarri word for a wet weather hut like shelter that was traditionally built in the desert during rainy time. Established in 1983, Mangkaja Arts is a place where artists from the different language groups now residing in the Fitzroy Valley region come together to paint country and share stories in a range of artistic styles and cultures. These language groups include Bunuba, Gooniyandi and of martuwarra, the river country, to Walmajarri and Wangkajunga from the jilji, sandhill country of the Great Sandy Desert.
Renowned for their uninhibited style and lively use of colour, Mangkaja artists paint images of country that share stories of culture and identity. Mangkaja Arts exhibits nationally and internationally, representing award-winning and acclaimed artists and supports the development of emerging artists. Many Mangkaja artists are also represented in each of the State Galleries, the National Gallery of Australia and significant private and public collections around the world.
Mangkaja Arts supports culture through the maintenance, documentation and sharing of traditional cultural knowledge and activities while providing employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal people in the region.
Ph: 08 9191 5833 | www.mangkaja.com
Martumili Artists, Newman
Martumili Artists was established by Martu people living in the communities of Parnpajinya (Newman), Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji and Warralong. The artists and their families are the traditional custodians of vast stretches of the Great Sandy, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts as well as the Karlamilyi (Rudall River) area. Most Martu people maintained an entirely independent, nomadic desert lifestyle until the 1950s and 1960s when they walked into settlements in response to a long and severe drought. Today, Martu people live in their own communities and regularly visit regional centres such as Newman.
Martumili works with new and established artists, whose work showcase the diversity, integrity and strength of Martu Culture. The art centre gives artists equitable access to national and international art markets using accountable, best-practice systems. All purchases from the art centre guarantee the artists are paid fairly and the art centre commission is reinvested into the artists’ enterprise and their communities.
Martumili Artists are based in the East Pilbara Arts centre in Newman, with artists working in the six other remote East Pilbara communities. Our art gallery and studio in Newman welcomes visitors, and hosts exhibitions showcasing the artworks from artists across Martu Country. Martumili Artists is Martu governed by a group of nominated elders and young leaders, and is an activity of the Shire of East Pilbara. We acknowledge BHP as our Principal Partner.
Ph: 08 9175 8000 | www.martumili.com.au
Tjukurba Art Gallery
Located in Wiluna (1,000 kilometres from Perth) at the start of the Canning Stock Route (CSR), the Tjukurba Art Gallery is an initiative of the Wiluna Shire Council providing a venue for local Martu cultural expression by ensuring the ethical production and sale of Indigenous art.
Birriliburu artists paint in a variety of styles and palettes, depicting stories which embody a rich culture of country, history, and lifestyle. Images of the CSR and the Rabbit-proof fence are often central to the works. The Birriliburu artists are gaining recognition for paintings and works on paper through representation in the National Museum of Australia’s Canning Stock Route Collection.
The Tjukurba Art Gallery is a must see destination for visitors to the Goldfields region of Western Australia.
Ph: 08 9981 8001 | www.tjukurbagallery.com.au
