Albert Namatjira Australia (Aboriginal), 1902-59

Albert Namatjira was the first aboriginal to achieve recognition for his art and the world looked with renewed interest at his people and their skills as a result. He was a pure-blood from the Arunta (or Aranda) Tribe. in Central Australia, born in 1902 at the Hermannsburg Mission which was begun by Lutheran missionaries in 1877. His superb paintings depict the beautiful mountain ranges, river valleys, gum trees and red sand hills that are unique to the Central Australian landscape and home of the Arunta Tribe. He was introduced to the art of watercolour painting by Rex Battarbee, a noted watercolourist and teacher. He first exhibited in 1938 in the Fine Arts Society's Gallery, Melbourne which was opened by Lady Huntingfield, wife of the Governor of Victoria. In 1939, the South Australian Society of Arts Gallery, Adelaide exhibited 41 watercolours which also sold out. His third exhibition in Melbourne in 1944 fetched a staggering £800 with individual pieces fetching 10-35 guineas. In 1945, the Anthony Hordern's Art Gallery sold another 44 paintings for £1000 and all but one painting had sold within 20 minutes of Professor A. P. Elkin opening the exhibition. In 1948 commercial picture theatres throughout Australia were featuring a documentary entitled Namatjira the Painter. The success of Albert, his sons and other artists from the Hermannsburg School has given them worldwide prestige and appreciation.

Albert Namatjira is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1969 of 1,510, of which 1,192 (79%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $245,455 for Waters of the Finke (1958) sold by Smith & Singer in November 2022. This year 11 works have been offered for sale. Works by Albert Namatjira are held by the National Gallery of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery and a further five major public national galleries (see list below).