As an Ammatyerre Elder and custodian of many important “Dreamings”, Kudditji Kngwarreye has been actively painting since 1986. 

In 1994 Kudditji became aware of the emerging Desert Art Movement which had been initiated and encouraged by teacher, Geoffrey Bardon in the nearby Papunya Community and was inspired to record his unique Dreamings and Stories of his country on the more permanent medium of acrylic on canvas. Kudditji’s first paintings reflected his traditional upbringing and utilised the very fine dots and symbols indicative of the Men’s ceremonies and Emu Dreamings from the Utopia region. His strong, traditional early work and distinctive style found immediate acceptance and recognition and was highly sought after. Then, about ten years ago, intrigued by the possibilities of acrylic paint and the kaleidoscope of colours now available to him, Kudditji began to experiment with the synthetic polymer paint to eradicate the pointillist style altogether and to use a heavily loaded paint brush to sweep broadly across the canvas in stages, similar to the western landscape plane. These paintings were romantic images of his country, accentuating the colour and form of the landscape including the depth of the sky in the Wet season and in the reds and oranges of the shimmering summer heat. These groundbreaking paintings expressed Kudditji’s extensive knowledge and love of his country in a way never seen before.

Like his famous older sister, the late great Emily Kngwarreye, Kudditji Kngwarreye has a deserved reputation as an innovative and consummate artist exhibiting internationally.