Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Tjuntala Ngurangka – Country with Wattle (Acacia Murrayana) (AK23592), 2023, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 X 152 cm

Alcaston Gallery presents Kurunpa Nyantulypa – Calm Spirit by esteemed artist Nellie Ngampa Coulthard – the sixth solo exhibition and her first since being awarded the distinguished $50,000 Len Fox Painting Award in 2024, a significant career milestone.

Coulthard’s captivating paintings of Yankunytjatjara Country, near Oodnadatta in South Australia, are imbued with deep sentimentality. In a rich palette of blushed pinks, purples, and golden oranges, her work reflects her profound connection to the landscapes and flora of her childhood.

A central motif of Coulthard’s practice is the Acacia Murrayana Wattle tree, which has become an enduring and defining symbol of her paintings. Her compositions echo the delicate limbs of the tree and unveil a hidden perspective of Country – one that lies just beneath the surface. These works evoke the intricate architecture of the plant’s lateral roots, which stretch far beyond the original tree, reaching upward to give rise to new descendants—passing on its legacy with each new growth.

Coulthard’s practice has garnered national acclaim and institutional recognition. She is a three-time finalist in the Wynne Prize, presented by the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, (2018, 2019, and 2022) and in 2023 she was named a finalist in three major national awards: the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, the highest-value professional artist prize for women in Australia; the prestigious Hadley’s Art Prize; and the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize.

Opening event: Thursday 3 April, 4:30-6:30pm