Born in 1922, Australian Aboriginal artist Oscar Namatjira was the second son of Albert Namatjira and grew up with his family in Hermannsburg west of Alice Springs. He painted in the familiar style of the artists of the Hermannsburg School, an art movement that began in the 1930s and is characterised by the use of watercolours to depict the luminous colours of the outback landscape in the Western Arrernte region of Australia’s Northern Territory.
The earliest auction listing we have for Oscar Namatjira is in 1978 and in total 350 works by the artist have been offered for sale, of which 312 (89%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $6,600 for Gorge Near Glen Helen, Western MacDonnells Late 1940s sold by Sotheby's in October 2006. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2023. Works by Oscar Namatjira are held by the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and a further two major public national galleries (see list below).
Oscar Namatjira is listed in the following standard biographical references:
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
Yes, eligible, subject to the artist satisfying the residency test. The artist is alive or has been deceased for less than 70 years. Contact the Copyright Agency for information on the residency test.
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