49 Artists' Epic Works Finally Open After 3-Year Wait

The National Gallery of Australia just opened its doors to an exhibition that's been worth the wait, featuring stunning three-meter-by-three-meter paintings that took three years to reach the public.

Ngura Puḻka (Epic Country) showcases 30 large-scale works by 49 First Nations artists from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in remote South Australia. The exhibition, opening in Canberra, was originally scheduled for June 2023 but faced delays after questions arose about the works' authenticity.

An independent investigation fully cleared the artists, confirming they have complete authorship of their artwork. "Those claims were disputed," said Tina Baum, head curator of First Nations art at the National Gallery. "The artists have 100 percent authorship of their artworks in this exhibition."

The scale of these paintings matches the epic stories they tell. Twenty-nine of the 30 works measure three meters by three meters, creating an immersive experience of the APY Lands' culture and landscape.

Artist Sandra Pumani, who grew up in the region, uses her canvas to share memories of home. "It was really precious that I've experienced so much in that life, growing up in a beautiful place," she said. As chair of the APY Art Centre Collective, she comes from a family of artists spanning three generations.

George Cooley, an opal miner and artist, took a different approach with his painting. While his colleagues painted aerial views of their country, he captured Coober Pedy from ground level. His work "Blue Ground Country" references mining language while celebrating the beauty of layered sediments and natural colors.

Why This Inspires

The APY Lands represent one of the most concentrated centers of art-making on Earth, with over 500 artists among 2,000 people across 20 communities. This exhibition brings their voices, traditions, and jukurrpa (lore and ceremony) to a national stage after years of patient waiting.

Gallery director Nick Mitzevich emphasized how the artists worked directly with curators, visiting homelands and art centers to ensure authentic representation. The stories range from the Seven Sisters tale of the sky to underground narratives and land stories, offering viewers a diverse window into APY culture.

The exhibition runs for 19 weeks in Canberra, giving thousands of visitors the chance to experience art that celebrates country, hunting, camping, and connection to place. These monumental works prove that some things are worth waiting for, and authentic voices always deserve to be heard.