Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges), NT

$1,500.00

Vanessa Inkamala was born in Ntaria (Hermannsburg) with a rich artistic heritage; her great-uncle is Albert Namatjira, and her aunt, the late Ivy Pareroultja, was also a respected artist. Following in her family’s footsteps, Vanessa’s younger brother, Reinhold Inkamala, is also an established landscape painter. Currently based in Mparntwe, Vanessa dedicates her days to her artistic practice at the Iltja Ntjarra art centre. Her journey with the art centre began in 2010, and her distinctive style quickly captured the attention of major collectors. Her works are now part of esteemed collections including those at the University of Technology Sydney, National Museum of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.

Vanessa’s career has been marked by participation in special projects, including a professional development workshop led by acclaimed artist and friend Tony Albert. Her contributions to the workshops, which aimed to explore socio-political themes, were profound, illustrating the impacts of colonisation and globalisation on the land. In 2017, during a Cicada Press print workshop, Vanessa reimagined this impactful work as a multi-plate etching, titled Before and After – McDonalds, which was showcased at TARNANTHI: Festival of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Her dedication to exploring complex themes through her art continues to resonate within the artistic community.