Sarrita King

Sarrita King

Date of Birth 1988
Language Group Gurindji/Waanyi

She is the younger sister to fellow artist, Tarisse King, and daughter to the late highly regarded artist, William King Jungala (1966 - 2007). She inhereted her Gurindji and Waanyi ancestry through her father, who came to public attention during the 1960s and 1970s when him and other members of the Gurindji tribe employed by the Wave Hill cattle station led a landmark case which became the first successful land rights claim in Australia.  Sarrita spent most of her youth growing up in Darwin in the Northern Territory. Not far from where her ancestors inhabited, it is here that her connection to her Aboriginality and subsequently the land was able to grow. Her exposure to the imperious weather and extreme landscape has provided the theme for her works of art, since she began painting at age 16. Rolling sand hills, cracking lightning and thunderstorms, torrential rain, fire, desert and tangled bush are all scathing environmental factors that shaped her forefather's lives and also her own. Depicting these elements in her paintings, Sarrita provides a visual articulation of the earth's language. Stylistically, Sarrita utilises traditional Aboriginal techniques such as 'dotting' but also incorporates unorthodox techniques inherited from her late father, as well as self-developed practices. Her art is a fusion of the past, present and future and represents the next generation of artists who have been influenced by both their indigenous history, and current Western upbringing. Sarrita creates frenetic energy on the canvas with her Lightning series and searing heat with her Fire series. Her aesthetic has a universal appeal and provides an entry point for people to experience the power and uniqueness of the Australian landscape and its harsh climate. On a world scale, her depictions couldn't be more seasonable and well-timed. Sarrita has been included in numerous exhibitions, is represented in galleries in every Australian state, included in many high profile Australian and international art collections and been auctioned many times successfully through Paris's Art Curial Auction house.  After 3 years living and painting in Canberra, Sarrita returned back to Darwin, where she spent most of her childhood. Although young, Sarrita King has many personal achievements but it is her desire to visually communicate her inspiration and the land, which keeps her ancestral narrative alive and provides a new way of looking back while looking forward. Sarrita exhibits in Sydney and Brisbane with Wentworth Galleries.

Collections Holmes a Court Collection Collaborations 2017 - Artist Artwork selected to be featured on Samsung's The Frame Selected Exhibitions 2020, Feb - Director Choice, Kate Owen Gallery2018, Mar - Earth Language, Aboriginal Art Gallery, Rotterdam 2017, Sep - Ancestors, Elements, Heritage, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle2017, June -  Gurrondji Janjinyina, Kate Owen Gallery2017, May - King Collection, Cromwell, Melbourne2017, Mar - Battersea Art Fair, Aboriginal Art Galleries, London2016, Oct - Artist in residence, Kate Owen Gallery2015, Sep - King Sisters Artist in Residence2014, Sep - Artist in residence, Kate Owen Gallery2014, Aug - Sarrita & Tarisse King, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle2014, July - Sarrita King: Pop Art, Ngarru Gallery, Port Douglas2014, April - The King Sisters: Pop Art, Red Desert Dreamings, Melbourne2013, July - Artist in residence, Ngarru, Port Douglas2013, Feb - The King Sisters, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle2012,Nov - Country of Kings, Red Desert Dreamings, Melbourne2012, Nov - Art Expo, Singapore2012, Oct - Collaboration Gallery 577, Melbourne2012, Aug - Aboriginal Art, Butler Goode Gallery, Sydney2012, March - Contemporary Art, Art Curial, Paris2011, Nov - Language of the Earth, Japingka, Fremantle, WA2011, Feb - Connections: First Solo Exhibtion, Gallery 577, Melbourne2010, Nov - Contemporary Auction, Art Curial, France2010 - Rising Stars, Tarisse & Sarrita King, Aboriginal Art Galleries, Sydney2010, Aug - The King Sisters, Mason Art Gallery2010 - First Artist in Residence, Newington College, Sydney2010 - In Our Father's Eyes, Aboriginal Dreamtime Gallery, LA2010, Jul - Contemporary Auction, Art Curial, France2010, April - Fire & Lightning, Central Art, Alice Springs2010, Feb - The King Sisters, Red Desert Dreaming Gallery, Mel2009, Nov - Art Curial Auction and Exhibition, Art Curial, France2009, Sep - William, Tarisse & Sarrita King, Aboriginal Art Galleries, Sydney2009, Nov - Kaminabend mit Tarisse & Sarrita, Brit's Art, �bach-Palenberg, Germany2009 - The King Sisters, Blue Gum Gallery, QVB, Syd2009 - The 3 Kings, Bennelong Gallery, Syd2009, May - The Three Kings, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney2009 Size Matters, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW2008, Aug -The Kings, Firstlook Gallery, Mel2008, April -The 3 Kings, Ulladulla Aboriginal Gallery, Syd2006, Aug - Kings Exhibition, La Jolla, California, USA