September will see the return of Desert Mob

Desart has announced a stellar line-up for their 2023 edition.

Words: Erin Irwin

Desert Mob will be returning to Alice Springs from September this year, curated by Hetti Kemarr Perkins (Arrernte and Kalkadoon) and Aspen Nampin Beattie (Luritja, Warumungu and Yawuru). Bringing together a huge range of artists and Art Centres, the 34th edition of Desert Mob will showcase the very best of Aboriginal art.

Philip Watkins, CEO of Desart, has said that “for over three decades Desert Mob has presented an exhibition of artworks selected by art centres to represent their communities. Desart is delighted to again present Desert Mob in Mparntwe and celebrate Aboriginal art and culture in the heart of the desert.”

This year will see the return of the Desert Mob Symposium, which will provide an in-depth exploration of the many practices and projects from the artists themselves, as well as Desert Mob Marketplace, which will provide collectors with an opportunity to purchase works directly from artists, alongside food stalls, workshops and performances.

Each of the 34 Art Centres from across 1.221 million km of desert will be selecting the exhibited works. Participating Art Centres include Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre, Artists of Ampilatwatja, Barkly Regional Arts, Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, Ernabella Arts, Pukutja, Greenbush Art Group, Hermannsburg Potters, Ikuntji Artists, Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, Iwantja Arts, Kaltjiti Arts, Keringke Arts, Ltyentye Apurte Traditional Craft Centre, Martumili Artists, Maruku Arts, Mimili Maku Arts, Minyma Kutjara Arts Project, Ninuku Arts, Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre, Papunya Tjupi Arts, Papunya Tula Artists, Spinifex Arts Project, Tangentyere Artists, Tapatjatjaka Art & Craft, Tjala Arts, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Tjarlirli Art, Tjungu Palya, Utopia Art Centre, Walkatjara Art, Warakurna Artists, Warlayirti Artists, Warlukurlangu Artists and Yarrenyty Arltere Artists.

Desert Mob will run from Thursday 7 September to Sunday 22 October. For more information, visit Desart’s website here.

This article was posted 28 June 2023.

Image: Artist Rhonda Sharpe, with her work, as part of the installation of soft sculptures by Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Desert Mob 2021. Photo: Emma Louise Murray. Courtesy: the artist, Araluen Arts Centre, and Desart.

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