Aboriginal art is no one thing – it’s as varied as the colours of a desert sunset, each creation holding its own cultural significance. Dot paintings and rock art are really just the tip of the iceberg, with the ancient stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people also narrated through bark paintings, weavings, body art, wood carvings, printed fabrics and more.
Taking place on Larrakia Country, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) celebrate the vibrant spirit and creativity of Australia’s most exceptional Indigenous artists. With a total prize pool of $190,000, you can expect to see diverse works from both well-known and emerging talents in what is now the longest-running and most significant award of its kind nationwide.
It’s been 41 years since the awards first launched at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), with each year unveiling fresh talent and fresh stories on the gallery walls. Almost 250 artists entered the 2024 Telstra NATSIAA awards, from which 72 finalists were selected. The Northern Territory is home to 31 of these talented artists, with 13 from Western Australia, 11 from South Australia, ten from Queensland, three from New South Wales, and two each from Tasmania and Victoria.
The biggest prize up for grabs at the awards ceremony on Friday, August 9 is the prestigious Telstra Art Award, valued at $100,000. Last year, Keith Wikmunea, a Thu’ Apalech man and artist from Aurukun in Queensland, claimed this honour with his sculptural piece, ‘Ku’, Theewith and Kalampang: The White Cockatoo, Galah and the wandering Dog’.
Finalists in this year’s NATSIAA also have the chance to win one of six other awards, each worth $15,000. There are best in category awards for general painting, bark painting, work on paper, multimedia piece and 3D art, along with the Telstra Emerging Artist Award and the Telstra People’s Choice Award.
MAGNT director, Adam Worrall, said: “With 21 finalists falling under the emerging artist category, the 41st Telstra NATSIAA highlights the vitality and innovation of the next generation of Aboriginal artists and continues the legacy of exhibiting emerging artists alongside well-known names.”
All will be revealed at the 2024 awards ceremony on Friday, August 9, which is free for those who secure tickets here. Don’t live in Darwin? Well here’s your excuse to hit up the cultural capital of Australia, with all of the finalists showcased at MAGNT until January 27, 2025.