These wonderful work are by artists from Utopia. It is a region of approximately 5,000 sq km north-east of Alice Springs and is home to around 2,000 aboriginal people. The region largely lies on aboriginal owned land called Urapuntja, it is made up of several larger communities and some very small ones!
Art is by far the largest source of employment in an area which lacks employment opportunities and skills. There are well over 250 professional artists in the region, most of them have never attended an art class!
The creative movement in Utopia began with batik and the work they produced came to international attention and was exhibited around the world. When painting reached the communities in the late 1980’s, acrylic paint on canvas with its quick drying and no mess properties, soon overtook batik.
Initial work from the region was traditional but the styles quickly developed and became bolder and more diverse. This is what the art of Utopia is renowned for to this day, and Utopia's women are now leaders in female aboriginal art.
October 13th - November 17th, Wednesday - Saturday, 10:30 - 16:30, Wetpaint Gallery, Stroud, GL6 8NR. Free entry!
Enquires to Nadia Phillips - nadia@aboriginalartuk.com or 0207 6327579