Dot paintings of the Australian Aboriginal desert peoples are often called sand paintings.

This reference stems from their genesis in paintings on the ground that are created by clans as they move from place to place in the desert. The clan gathers around a central site, which is cleared so that"paintings" can be created using seeds, flowers, sand, stones, feathers, and other natural substances. The clan elders sing their way through the painting process,
imparting tribal knowledge to younger members of the clan. The various symbols are explained and interpreted as lessons in the clan's history and heritage, its creation story, and the location of sacred sites, food sources, and water holes.

Today, these designs are painted on art board and canvas for sale to the outside world. While the precise meanings of the designs are usually not revealed to outsiders, they have deep cultural significance to clan members. Usually, only senior males who 'graduate' to high rank in the clan learn the full meaning of the designs.

To visit the page devoted to
dot painted emu eggs, click here

K107 24"x16"
Mervyn Rubuntja

KB14 18"x28"
Christine Peterson Nangala

K166 Walpiri
Don Tjungurrayi

W688 Walpiri 36"x30"
Pansy Napangati

KB06 Pitjantjatjara 46.5"x26.25"
William Sandy

KA71 24"x18"
Narpula Scobie

KA31 Worimi 23"x23"
Loretta McDonald

KA29 Worimi 22"x23"
Linda Currie

KB19 23" X 18"
Luck Morton

K168 Pitjantjatjara 34" x 10.75"
William Sandy

KA28 Worimi 24"x35"
Len Cunningham

KC13 - 14" x 21"
Joanne Nangala

K007-13.25" x 17"
Karen Taylor

KB86 -23" x 23"
Janet Forrester

KB45 -24" x 38"
Anthony Nemarluk.

KB48 -42" x 24.5"
Walala Tjapaltjari

KB46 -24" x 36"
Colin Warnir

KC89 - 48" x 28"
Sonder Turner Nampitjinpa

KC90 - 43" x 49"
Lucy Yukenbarri Napanangka

KC36 - 48" x 18"
Nancy Campbell Napanangkpa


KC37 -36" x 24"
Amy Pultara.

KC42 -30" x 40"
Brenda Nungala.

Gabriella Possum Nungarrayi

Gabriella is the eldest daughter of Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri (deceased), arguably the best known Australian Aboriginal painter of our time. His influence on her work has been profound as he served as both teacher and role model. She was born at Mt. Allen in 1967. She won her first award in Alice Springs while still a college student. Gabriella's work has been exhibited in Washington, DC, (1992) London, (1993)Berne, Switzerland, (1993) and the United Nations Headquarters in New York. She is represented in collections ranging from the Holmes a Court collection and the Flinders University Museum to the Kelton Foundation Collection in Santa Monica, CA, and the Aboriginal Art Galleries of Australia in Melbourne.

She first came to our attention in 1990 when we met her outside a gallery in Sydney. She visited our hotel room a day later. With child in tow and pregnant like a melon, she unrolled
her canvasses. We were immediately struck by the quality of her work and became instant fans. We purchased
all that she had with her.

We have since sought out her work wherever we have shopped for Australian Aboriginal art.

On most recent trip to Australia, we were able to acquire five new Gabriella Possum paintings. It is interesting to see the evolution of her work from very disciplined traditional designs to more adventurous splashes of vibrant color - still representing the Dreamings of her people. The paintings are displayed in below .

W695 Bush Tucker Dreaming

KB05 Sugar Bag Dreaming

KA24 Bush Tucker Dreaming

KA25 Bush Tucker Dreaming

KC03 Soakage Dreaming

KC02 Women's Body Painting

KB04 Bush Wheat Dreaming

All colors are approximate due to the differences
in Web browsers. We hope you enjoy them.