About Kudditji Kngwarreye
Born around 1928, Kudditji Kngwarreye had a traditional bush upbringing in the Utopia region before starting a long career as a stockman and mine worker. As an Anmatyerre elder and custodian of many important Dreamings, Kudditji was originally inspired by the work coming out of Papunya to paint his own Dreamings, telling of the travels and law of the Emu ancestors. Starting in 1986, his Emu Dreaming paintings, which reflected his traditional upbringing and utilised the very fine dots and symbols, became sought after by major galleries in Australia.
Kudditji, one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal artists, began painting in the early eighties after Geoffrey Bardon inspired the art movement at Papunya.
He is the custodian of his country, situated approximately 230 kms north east of Alice Springs. He is the brother of renowned artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye from Utopia. Prior to his artistic career, he had numerous jobs throughout the Central Desert as a stockman and also worked in mineral and gold mines. He has been represented in major international exhibitions and has gained worldwide recognition for his traditional depictions of his Dreaming.