Darwin Aboriginal Art

Darwin is the regional capital of the Northern Territory, located on the north coast on the Timor Sea. Darwin is home to local Aboriginal people, the Larrikia people. Much like Alice Springs, as a regional hub for services, Darwin also attracts Aboriginal people from outlying communities in Arnhem Land and coastal regions as well as other Northern Territory communities. It is estimated that more than 50 nationalities are represented in Darwin, making it Australia’s most Asian facing city with a broad population base, though still numbering less than 140,000.

Darwin was first named in 1839 on a survey by HMS Beagle, and was named to honour Charles Darwin who had made the previous journey on the ship. The town was destroyed and rebuilt twice – once after Japanese air raids in 1942-43 in WWII, and again after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Darwin acts as an access point to Kakadu National Park, and the ancient rock art sites and traditional communities of Arnhem Land. The Tiwi Islands are also accessible from Darwin by boat and by air.

The Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery in Darwin has hosted the national Indigenous Art Awards ( NATSIAA – Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award) for 30 years, established as a feature of the national Aboriginal art calendar. Darwin has attracted Aboriginal artists from around the region and has been a proud source of quality Aboriginal art over many decades.

Further information is available on featured artists on the following links

Ancestors, Elements, Heritage – Sarrita King & Tarisse King

The King Sisters – Sarrita King & Tarisse King – Exhibition
Sarrita King – Artist Profile
Tarisse King – Artist Profile