Emily Kam Kngwarray, Ntang Dreaming 1989. / or change to yellow Seeds of abundance, 1990. National Gallery of Australia. © Estate of Emily Kam Kngwarray / DACS 2024, All rights reserved.
Renowned Australian artist Emily Kam Kngwarray (c.1914–1996), whose powerful works are the subject of a groundbreaking exhibition at Tate Modern, began painting on canvas relatively late in life but quickly became one of Australia's most significant contemporary artists. Her style evolved from earlier batik work to large, vibrant canvases characterised by layers of colour, energetic lines, and gestural marks. While seemingly abstract, her work is deeply connected to her Anmatyerr heritage and the landscape of her birthplace, Alhalker, in Australia’s Northern Territory.
Exhibition curator Kelli Cole will explain how Kngwarry’s works represent the seasons, the cycles of life, the Dreamings associated with her Country, and the overall energy and spirit of the land. She often depicted the patterns of seeds, plants, and the flow of water.
Kngwarray's work broke down many barriers in the art world and achieved significant international acclaim. Her unique visual language, while rooted in her cultural knowledge, resonated with contemporary abstract art movements. She demonstrated the power and complexity of Aboriginal perspectives on land and spirituality in a modern context.
The exhibition Emily Kam Kngwarray is at Tate Modern from 10 July 2025 to 11 January 2026. Supported by a grant from ARTscapades.
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This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live, or on-demand for one month afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.