2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Winners Announced

Pitjantjatjara elder Noli Rictor has claimed the prestigious Telstra Art Award at the 2024 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs), securing the top prize of $100,000. His winning piece, a painting titled Kamanti, depicts a significant site in the northern Spinifex Lands. This location is central to the Wati Kutjara Tjukurpa (Two Men Creation Line), an ancestral narrative chronicling the journey of a father and son water serpent as they traverse the Country, establishing sacred sites along their path.

The NATSIAAs, now in their 41st year, remain Australia’s longest-running and most esteemed awards for Indigenous artists, celebrating the rich diversity and enduring cultural traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The NATSIAA panel of judges – Putuparri Tom Lawford, Keith Munro and Katina Davidson made the following comment: 

“Congratulations to the 2024 Telstra NATSIAA finalists. They have all collectively continued to honour the legacy of culture and artistic expression from our unique places and spaces. We were entrusted with a task – to deeply understand each work, the artist and their intentions and then decide on a winner. There were outstanding works across all categories, making the role of the judge very difficult. 

“We were greatly impressed by the calibre of work presented by all entrants and were excited to learn of artists who we weren’t familiar with. The diversity in artistic materials and the artist’s interpretation of their stories moved and sometimes surprised us. Several artworks discussed timely themes which have recently received national attention- and the judges commend each artist for using their practice to give attention to important stories at this prestigious event. The diversity of cultural, social, political- and ceremonial stories across all media should be celebrated.” 

The Awards have been a career changer for many of the finalists and winners throughout its 40 years. This year we celebrate a 33-year long partnership with Telstra.

• Telstra Art Award | $100,000
• Category Winners | $15,000 each
• Telstra General Painting Award
• Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
• Telstra Multimedia Award
• Telstra Emerging Artist Award

_________________________________________________________

The Telstra Art Award winner 

Noli Rictor 

Pitjantjatjara language born 1969 lives Tjuntjuntjara, WA 

Kamanti 2023 

synthetic polymer paint on linen 290 x 200 cm 

_________________________________________________________

Telstra General Painting Award 

Lydia Balbal 

Mangala language born 1958, lives Bidyadanga/Broome, WA 

Keeping up with the Balbals 2023 

synthetic polymer paint on enamel-painted steel car bonnet 

135 x 160 x 5 cm 

_________________________________________________________

Telstra Bark Painting Award 

Wurrandan Marawili 

Yolŋu Matha language, born 1983, lives Yirrkala, NT 

Rumbal, the body/the truth 2023 

earth pigment on stringybark 

178 x 102 cm 

_________________________________________________________

Telstra Work on Paper Award 

Shannon Brett 

Wakka Wakka, Butchulla and Gooreng Gooreng languages, born 1973, lives Brisbane, Qld 

An Australian Landscape 2024 

Pigment print on photo rag 

83 x 160 cm 

_________________________________________________________

Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (Sponsored by Telstra) 

Obed Namirrkki 

Kuninjku language, born 1987, lives Maningrida, NT 

Kunkurra 2024 

earth pigment and PVA fixative on stringybark 

231.5 x 20 x 27.5 cm 

_________________________________________________________

Telstra Multimedia Award 

Natalie Davey 

Walmajarri and Bunuba languages, born 1979, lives Fitzroy Crossing, WA 

River report 2024 

Single channel video, watercolour and pen on paper 10:00 mins 76 x 54 cm (work on paper) 

_________________________________________________________

Telstra Emerging Artist Award 

Josina Pumani 

Pitjantjatjara language, born 1984, lives Adelaide, SA 

Maralinga 2024 

clay, underglaze 

44.5 x 30 x 33.5 cm 

_________________________________________________________