On August 9, 2024, the winners of the 41st Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) were unveiled, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and artistic excellence of Indigenous Australians. This year’s competition saw 72 finalists selected from 238 entries across the country, showcasing the diverse and vibrant talent within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Noli Rictor, a Pitjantjatjara artist from Tjuntjuntjara in Western Australia, emerged as the star of the night, winning the prestigious $100,000 Telstra Art Award for his masterpiece, Kamanti. Rictor’s painting is a powerful depiction of the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa, a Dreaming story that follows the journey of a father-son duo of water serpents across the Spinifex Lands. His work captivates with its vivid use of color and form, breathing life into the spiritual landscape and earning him top honors from the panel of judges—cultural adviser Putuparri Tom Lawford, curator Keith Munro, and Katina Davidson.
Rictor’s journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with his life experiences. Born in 1969 in the Great Victoria Desert, near Maralinga—an area impacted by nuclear testing by the UK in the 1950s and ’60s—Rictor and his family relocated to the Yakadunya settlement in 1986 to avoid nuclear contamination. His winning piece, Kamanti, is a testament to his deep connection to the land and its stories.
In addition to Rictor’s grand prize, six other artists were recognized in various categories, each receiving a $15,000 award:
- General Painting Award: Lydia Balbal from Broome, for her striking work painted on a car bonnet.
- Bark Painting Award: Northern Territory artist Wurrandan Marawili.
- Work on Paper Award: Brisbane-based artist Shannon Brett for An Australian Landscape, a piece that reframes discussions of racism.
- Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award: Obed Namirrkki’s Kunkurra.
- Multimedia Award: Natalie Davey from Fitzroy Crossing for her 10-minute video capturing a flooding event.
- Emerging Artist Award: South Australian artist Josina Pumani for her clay pot depicting the story of Maralinga.
The NATSIAA exhibition is open to the public until January 27, 2025, at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. For more information, visit magnt.net.au/natsiaa or follow @mag_nt on social media.
This year’s awards not only highlight the incredible skill and creativity of Indigenous artists but also emphasize the importance of preserving and sharing the stories and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through art.
