When Vincent Namatjira was a teenager living in Perth as a ward of the state, he encountered a replica of the HMS Endeavour on a school trip. This ship famously brought James Cook to Dharawal country in 1770. Vincent’s teacher announced a prize for whoever could draw the ship, and Vincent eagerly got to work. Decades later, he still grins as he remembers winning that prize. Little did he know, this victory was just the beginning.
Over the years, Vincent Namatjira, now 40, has become one of Australia’s most celebrated artists. He has won prestigious art awards, such as the Ramsay art prize in 2019 and the Archibald prize in 2020 for his portrait of AFL footballer Adam Goodes. He has even been awarded an Order of Australia medal. His portraits are both playful and thought-provoking, filled with what his collaborator Tony Albert describes as “guerilla humor.”
What sets Vincent’s work apart is his unique style, which often includes himself in the paintings. In one scene, he might be crashing a royal family photo op on a palace balcony, while in the next, he could be wearing an Acca Dacca T-shirt, petting a dingo, and waving the Aboriginal flag alongside Cook and Queen Elizabeth II. Vincent describes his rise to fame as “rocketing,” a far cry from his life before picking up a paintbrush.
As a teenager in the 1990s, Vincent didn’t fully grasp how art, Cook, and the legacy of colonization would shape his life. Separated from his Arrernte family, culture, and country at a young age, he didn’t even understand the significance of his last name. It wasn’t until he returned to central Australia at 18, with little connection to his heritage beyond his surname, that he began to realize the importance of his great-grandfather, Albert Namatjira.
Albert Namatjira, a famous Aboriginal artist, was known for his watercolor landscapes that blended western influences with a unique perspective on country. Despite his success, Albert faced legal and health troubles that highlighted the divide between white and black Australia. This divide has also shaped Vincent’s life, as he was moved to foster care in Perth after his mother’s death.
Vincent eventually settled in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, where he started a family and began his own artistic journey. While he pays tribute to his heroes, such as his artist father-in-law and Eddie Mabo, Vincent also uses his art to critically examine the rich, white, and privileged. His portraits often have a touch of irreverence and subversion that challenge the power and status of these figures.
Despite his success, Vincent remains committed to his culture and speaks out against the government’s treatment of young Indigenous people. He believes that Indigenous voices need to be heard and that their culture and traditions should be respected. Through his art, Vincent aims to show the world the strength and power of Indigenous people.
This month, at the age of 40, Vincent will be launching a monograph and major survey exhibition titled “Australia in Colour” as part of the Tarnanthi festival. This exhibition celebrates his transformative decade of work and showcases his vibrant and powerful portraits. Vincent’s success has brought his name to the forefront, overshadowing even his great-grandfather’s legacy and opening doors for his family and culture to pave their own paths.
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