Raymond Walters Penangke Biography
Date of Birth: 1975Language Group: Anmatyerre Raymond Walters Penangke was born in 1975 in Mt Nancy, an Indigenous Australian settlement on the edge of Alice Springs. Alice Springs is located in the Red Centre of Australia and also known as the “Aboriginal Art Capital”. Penangke counts among his extended family members many well known First Nations artists, such as grandfather Jack Cook Ngale, late grandmothers Emily Kngwarreye and Minnie Pwerle, Aunties Gloria Petyerre, Barbara Weir, Margaret Scobie, Ada Bird Petyerre, Kathleen Petyerre, and his Uncle Lindsay Bird. Penangke paints several Dreaming Stories, amongst which those inherited from his grandfather’s Country Yuelamu (Mt Allan) and his grandmother’s Country Boundry Bore, Alhalkerre (Utopia). With his striking contemporary artworks in their bright colours and uniquely personal abstracted style, Penangke honours his sacred cultural heritage, as well as deeply connecting with audiences far beyond his community. Besides being a successful artist, Penangke is an active community educator and activist. About his upbringing, he states ‘raised on town camps and in remote communities, I know first-hand the hardships and challenges we face every day as a community. My life experiences have helped build the resilience, optimism and confidence needed to navigate life as an Aboriginal man.’ In 2023, Penangke launched Penangke Collaborative Cultural Consultancy, which aims to support and promote reconciliation initiatives and cultural advocacy efforts for First Nations People. Solo Exhibitions2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, City Library, Melbourne2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Art Mark Gallery, Melbourne2017 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Penangk Gallery, Geelong2015 Raymond Walters Japanangka, The Gordan Tafe, Geelong2015 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2014 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Geelong, VIC2013 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2012 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Gasworks, Melbourne, VIC2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Incinerator, Melbourne, VIC2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Allen Arthur Law Firm, Melbourne, VIC2010 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Katrina Manton Gallery, Melbourne, VIC2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Kath Dickson Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD2009 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2008 Stomping Grounds, Katrina Manton Gallery, Albert Park, VIC2008 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2007 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT Group Exhibitions2021 Mid-Winter Mofo, Art Mob, Hobart, TAS2021 Parrtjima Australia 2021- Festival of Light, Alice Springs, NT2020 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW2019 Defining Tradition | the colourists, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW2019 Small is Beautiful, Japingka Gallery, Perth, WA2019 Defining Tradition: the first wave & its disciples, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW
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