Wandjuk Marika Australia (Aboriginal), 1930-87

Wandjuk Marika was an Indigenous Australian artist, musician, and cultural leader from the Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. He was born in 1937 in Yirrkala, a remote settlement on the Gove Peninsula. Marika was a prominent figure in the movement for Indigenous rights and cultural preservation in Australia. In 1963, he played a key role in the landmark bark petition to the Australian government, which called for recognition of Indigenous land rights and helped pave the way for the modern land rights movement. As an artist, Marika was known for his traditional bark paintings that depicted the stories and traditions of the Yolngu people. He was also a skilled musician and played the yidaki (didgeridoo) with the internationally acclaimed band, Yothu Yindi. One of Marika's most famous works is a bark painting titled "The Aboriginal Memorial". The painting depicts a series of tall, intricately decorated poles, each representing one of the Indigenous people who had died since the arrival of European settlers in Australia. The painting was later transformed into a large-scale installation, which has been featured in several exhibitions around the world. Marika's art and activism have had a lasting impact on Indigenous rights and cultural preservation in Australia. He passed away in 1987, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence Indigenous artists and leaders today.

In our database, 46 works by Wandjuk Marika are listed as being offered for sale, the earliest in 1992, of which 35 (76%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $48,800 for Djan'kawu at Yalan'bara (Circa 1959) sold by Mossgreen Auctions in July 2014. This year one work has been offered for sale. Works by Wandjuk Marika are held by the Art Gallery of Western Australia, National Gallery of Australia and a further four major public national galleries (see list below).