Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation was established in the mid 1980s by the desert walkers who remembered meeting white people for the first time.
Now Warnayaka Art is run by their children & grandchildren. We specialise in Aboriginal Art made by Warlpiri people. These are the residents of Lajamanu, a township on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory. Lajamanu is halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs. The closest supermarket, dentist and hospital is in Katherine 580kms north of Lajamanu. The artists who live in Lajamanu exhibit their art in Australia and around the world. The art centre members travel to many of these exhibitions and art markets.
Our Artists
The Warlpiri peoples’ stories are part of their art. The artists draw heavily on their ancient cultural roots, producing works about their links to their lands and their way of life from before European arrival.
The artists have been finalists in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards.
Our People
The most important thing expressed by the artists, is the need to preserve and pass on cultural practice between generations.
Walpiri culture encompasses art, language, social structure, law, ceremony, and Country.
The Art Centre
The Art Centre is staffed mainly by the children of the older generation of Indigenous Lajamanu residents who remember their first contact with Europeans.
Latest Artwork
Warnayaka Art and the Warlpiri People Elders
In the old days the most important Warlpiri artwork was on wood, sand and the body. Now we use
acrylic paint on canvas, and digital art is emerging as the new medium of the younger generation.
The medium doesn’t matter, it’s more important that people learn their culture. The Warlpiri, of
Warnayaka Art, live in Lajamanu in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Aboriginal Dot Paintings
As the artists own the art centre, they don’t have to pay any costs for making and selling their art, including domestic and international travel, to art shows and events. The Warnayaka Art has more than just Art Exhibitions. We offer a true cultural experience of Aboriginal life and stories from their Dreamtime. The Lajamanu Community Art gives you an insight into their lives, the Dreamtime and their relationship with the land.
Our Partners
We are deeply grateful for the support and collaboration of our valued partners. Your dedication and commitment play a crucial role in advancing our mission to celebrate and preserve Aboriginal art and culture. Through our partnership, we can continue to showcase the rich heritage and vibrant creativity of Aboriginal artists.
