Maria Josette Orsto Exhibition

Maria Josette Orsto exhibits her latest works from the Tiwi Design art centre on Bathurst Island, about 100 kms north of Darwin. Artists of the region are continuing to make expressive and innovative new works that reflect the island’s strong ceremonial and cultural traditions.

Maria Josette Orsto first learned her skills while working alongside her father Declan Apuatimi while she was still a child. Later her mother Jean Baptiste Apuatimi emerged as a leading artist and Maria collaborated on some works with her. Maria Josette Orsto has been a productive and energetic artist across a range of different media, including carving, printmaking and painting.

Maria has created some powerful large scale works based on traditional themes that reflect on the significance of ochre colours that have such importance in ceremonial life. Recently Maria Josette Orsto’s work has been included in the travelling exhibition Being Tiwi created for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

Contemporary carvings painted in ochre are exhibited by Tess Tipunwuti, Immaculata Tipiloura, Thomas Munkanome and Jock Puautjimi. The exhibition is presented in association with Tiwi Design, and can be viewed at Japingka Gallery from 22 July to 24 August 2016.