Nurnakanha Lyaartinya Urrkaapuntja | Our New Work on Glass

Artists from the lltja Ntjarra Art Centre have partnered with the Canberra Glassworks to reinterpret the Hermannsburg School watercolour tradition through the medium of glass.

Nurnakanha Lyaartinya Urrkaapuntja | Our New Work on Glass is showing at JamFactory Adelaide in Gallery One from 27 September – 23 November 2025.

Located in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in the Northern Territory, the lltja Ntjarra Art Centre is a proudly Aboriginal owned and directed not-for-profit art centre. lltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) was established in 2004 for Western Aranda artists to come together to paint and share in learning new techniques and ideas. The arts centre has a special focus on supporting the Hermannsburg School style of watercolour artists, who continue to paint in the tradition of their grandfather and relative, Albert Namatjira. Arguably one of Australia’s most famous 20th century artists, Namatjira taught his children to follow in his unique style, who have since passed this knowledge on to their children. The Iltja Ntjarra artists proudly speak of the legacy Namatjira has left behind, which inspires them to continue painting the beautiful landscape they have grown up on and share with others. This multi-generational tradition has resonated in a legacy of watercolour artists in the Central Desert region. By continuing Namatjira’s legacy, these artists sustain an important piece of living history.

“We are particularly excited to explore glass as a new medium for expressing these rich traditions. The artists are very keen to see important legacies and shared stories and knowledge of the Country created on contemporary art materials such as glass. This medium offers an innovative way to capture the essence of our watercolour traditions while pushing the boundaries of our artistic expression.”

In Nurnakanha Lyaartinya Urrkaapuntja | Our New Work on Glass, twelve lltja Ntjarra artists have partnered with the Canberra Glassworks to reinterpret the Hermannsburg School watercolour tradition through the medium of glass. Following a series of collaborative workshops in Mparntwe, the Canberra Glassworks created a series of blown glass ‘blanks’ that were sent to the artists to work on. These pieces were then returned to the Canberra Glassworks for engraving and hand finishing. The result is a spectacular series of glass domes featuring the artists’ landscape paintings in a continuation of Albert Namatjira’s legacy. The exhibition features work byMona Lisa (Benita) Clements, Carita Coulthard, Dellina Inkamala, Dianne Inkamala, Kathy Inkamala, Raelene Inkamala, Reinhold Inkamala, Vanessa Inkamala, Mandy Malbunka, Mervyn Rubuntja, Betty Namatjira Wheeler, Kumantjai M Wheeler.

Following an artist-led approach, the project places emphasis on storytelling and cultural heritage, capturing the visual language of the lltja Ntjarra artists and the Hermannsburg School style. The project was developed through a series of workshops held in Mparntwe, Canberra, and online, with each session acting as an incubator for skill-building, collaboration, and idea-sharing. Led by Northern Territory based designer Elliat Rich, who has supported the project from its inception, these workshops provided a dynamic and inclusive environment for all participating artists. A key phase in the project involved workshops with the Canberra Glassworks, where lltja Ntjarra artists learned skills and established connections with glass experts. This collaborative, multi-stage approach integrated traditional and contemporary methods, resulting in a distinctive body of artworks that blend the transparent qualities of watercolour with coloured glass.

Canberra Glassworks and Iltja Ntjarra were supported through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts Program.

More information: jamfactory.com.au