Rosella Namok | FireWorks Gallery

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Selected works

FW17242 Stinging Rain...Iron Range	FW17271 Beach house city life I	FW17396 Shifting sands
FW17408 Iron Range: rainforest & sea	FW17689 Sunrise at Chilli Beach	FW17909 Summer Rain at Machin's Beach
FW18943 Zane & I (pink)	FW18958 Changing weather	FW19174 Boxing Sea - Out There
FW19188 Two Moieties (next generation)	FW19203 Leaving Lockhart	FW19692 Couple V
FW20260 Selfie sculpture series	FW20534 Unchii (diptych)	FW20686 Unchii: Regrowth (triptych)

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Bio & CV

ROSELLA NAMOK
Born: 1979 Lockhart River QLD
Region: Eastern Cape York Peninsula
Language: Aangkum (Ungkum)

Lives and works: Cairns, QLD

Rosella Namok first appeared on the contemporary art scene in the late 1990s as a prominent member of the renowned Lockhart River ‘Art Gang’. Growing up she experienced traditional life - such as camping, fishing, gathering berries - within and around Lockhart River, Claudie River, Quintell Beach, Chilli Beach and the Iron Range (Kutini-Payamu) National Park.

With an extensive history exhibiting nationally and Internationally, Rosella has been living and working in Cairns as well as more recently completed major commissions in Brisbane studios. Her paintings continue to reflect both traditional stories and contemporary themes across cultural and social concerns with candid observations about changing lifestyles and the environment. Through a technique developed by watching her grandmother drawing in the sand, Rosella often creates patterned, linear arrangements by pulling her fingers through the layers of paint.

Rosella Namok has been collected by all major State and National Galleries including The High Court of Australia in Canberra.

View 2021 Which Way? exhibition list and video here

Story/Statement

Download Rosella Namok's Artist Pack Here

UNCHII TREE
The paperbark or Unchii tree, found all over northern-coastal Queensland, are frequently used motifs by the artist to express both seasonal and life changes. Visual impressions of the bark texture in rich duotone arrangements dominate these compositions (The Beach Wood, Regrowth, & Red Cedar series’ are variations of these designs).

STINGING RAIN
The Stinging Rain imagery has become a powerful and evocative landscape arrangement for Rosella. After trowling layers of multi-coloured high gloss paints, Rosella allows some layers to dry and with the final wet coat she will 'whip' the painted surface with long thin sticks, creating the rhythmic patterns of the driving rain that are commonplace in the northern tropics. It's an action painting that brings the physicality of Rosella into play.

KAAPAY & KUYAN (MOIETY SYSTEM)
Across many Aboriginal cultures moiety systems, referring to the two equally balanced social and ritual groupings, are used to organise social structures and kin relationships, thus dictating marriage customs and the appropriate family entitlements and the responsibilities that come with this. For Ungkum people (Rosella’s clan) these are Kaapay and Kuyan. Where these customs were once strongly ingrained, they no longer hold the same importance for some younger community members.

Back home, we've got really strong culture from the old people. There are about six tribal lands back at home, like different clan groups. So you can't marry your own, you have to marry someone from a different tribal clan otherwise the old people, they get really upset and it's not how they grew up. But now most of the old people have passed on, and it's all a bit of a mix up now, so it's not really good. The young people are making the old people, the ones that are left, really shame - they get upset about it. Kaapay and Kuyan, have to be together, you have to be different... Has to be from a different clan.

Through her choice of colour and composition Rosella explores the broader, universal dualities of life; the macro (lore & culture) and the micro (family & self), the traditional and the modern and even the land and sea.

Since 2019 Rosella has been working with a Brisbane team to translate these stories into sculptural forms. This began with smaller ‘table sculpture’ prototypes and has grown to include a range of Selfie sculptures constructed with PVC & 2 pac colours as well as a major bronze floor work, Kaapay & Kuyan.

DIFFERENT TRIBES
Rosella also paints about the different clan groups from Lockhart River, the Kuuku Ya'u, Wuthathi, Kanthanumpu, Uutaalnganu, Umpila and Kaanju peoples. They will often come together for ceremonies and dance festivals.

LOCKHART LIFESTYLES
Although Rosella currently resides in Cairns, many of her works show a great appreciation for having grown up in Lockhart River and having been taught the traditional (hunting & gathering) ways by the old people. Many of her painting themes tap into these memories of collecting food from the land, such as mud mussels (circular shapes) from the mangroves (linear patterns).

PEOPLE AND COUPLES
People and Couples entwine shape with the mystery of the traditional Kupay & Kegau stories. These are the two opposing moieties which govern marriage relations in the artists Ungluum community.

NEW VILLAGES / COMMUNITY HOUSES
The New Villages series references Namok’s geometric patterning as a form of urban development in Aboriginal communities. Themes and variations arise from the artist’s personal response to lifestyle changes for her family and communities, including concerns with urban development, in amidst her reflections on the timeless charm of her homeland habitat. The expansion of housing and infrastructure are portrayed as an inevitable force of nature and change within the artists own visual language.

FULL MOON
The Full Moon series depicting a moon hovering in the sky is an iconic image dripping with Rosella’s finger-patterned linear arrangements.

RAINFOREST
Rainforest series engages with imagery in and around the Iron Range National Park, one of the largest areas of lowland rainforest in Australia.

SAND SCRIBE
This series often depicts the everchanging marks in the sand from tidal movements and the presence of elders’ stories.

BAMBOO AT WATCHEE
The work takes the viewer on a ‘cool walk’ into Rosella’s freshwater country, Watchee, south of Lockhart River. Here Rosella explores memories of catching freshwater turtle, jewfish, catfish and camping with her family. Rosella employs repetition of rhythm and pattern with definitive marks painted largely with her fingers.

I grew up with the old people. We always do body ceremony and body paintings too for wedding ceremonies. So I've always been helping out with my dad painting up the young boys. That's why I always use my fingers. The paintings that I do, it's all my fingers, or little scraping tools, but it’s finger paintings that I love more, especially back at home, helping out body painting ceremony.

Courtesy of the Artist & FireWorks Gallery

ROSELLA NAMOK

Born: 1979 Lockhart River QLD

Region: Eastern Cape York Peninsula

Community: Lockhart River

Language: Aangkum (Ungkun)

EXHIBITONS—SOLO

2023 Meet Rosella Namok, Flying Arts Judith Wright Building Brisbane

2022 Regrowth FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2019 Sand Scribe FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2018 Nature's Way FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2017 Weather Patterns II FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2015 Weather Patterns FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2014 New Moon in the City FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2012 YangkuyiWet Season Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery Sydney

2009 Rosella Namok Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2008 Rosella Namok Niagara Galleries Melbourne

2008 Rosella Namok - From Sand Beach Side Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2007 Sea Country Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2007 Ngaachi Bla Mepla Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2006 Up North Niagara Galleries Melbourne Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2005 My Puuya my life essence Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2005 Rosella Namok Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2005 Rosella Namok - New Works Adele Boag Gallery Adelaide

2004 Rosella Namok at The Essoign Club Melbourne

2004 Kungkay Ma (Up North) Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2004 nother side October Gallery London England

2004 Rosella Namok - New Work Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2004 Rosella Namok Niagara Galleries at the Essoign Club Melbourne

2003 Rosella Hogarth Galleries Sydney Niagara Galleries Melbourne

2002 Tinta at Hogarth Galleries Paddington

2002 Happen’ this way Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2001 Ee Right This Way Hogarth Galleries Paddington

2001 melpa sarbie paint Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2000 I come from ''yah Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2000 Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi Melbourne

1999 'bout hereLockhart River Hogarth Galleries Sydney

EXHIBTIONS—GROUP

2023 Evidence of Scale III: Drawing & Sculpture, FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2023 Lineage Despard Gallery, Hobart

2022 In Review FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2022 Which Way? Despard Gallery, Hobart

2021 Shorelines FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2021 Which Way? FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2021 Lockhart River Artists Despard Gallery, Hobart

2020 Twelve Ways FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2020 Twelve Artists FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2020 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Caloundra Regional Gallery

2020 Black & White 2020 FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2020 Lockhart Art Gang - Sharing Our Stories, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2019 Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize Tattersall's Club Brisbane

2019 Across the Top, Art Mob, Hobart

2019 Overcoming Adversity, Art Mob, Hobart

2019 Lunar Legacy, Art Mob, Hobart

2019 Matches 7: Michael Nelson Jagamara - A Shared Space, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2019 Lockhart Legends Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2019 defining tradition | black + white Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2019 International Women's Day Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2019 Defining Tradition | the colurists Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2019 Stories from my heart - Which Way Art Mob, Hobart

2019 On the Coast - The Art of Fiona Omeenyo & Rosella Namok Japingka Gallery, Fremantle

2019 Tjanpi Desert Weavers and three Indigenous women painters Despard Gallery Hobart

2018 Welcome toThompson Street FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2018 Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize Tattersall's Club Brisbane

2019 Tjanpi Desert Weavers and three Indigenous women painters Despard Gallery Hobart

2017 Sand, Salt & Spirit Coo-ee Art Gallery Sydney

2017 60 X√30 FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2017 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair Sydney

2017 Weather Patterns II FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2017 Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize Tattersall's Club Brisbane

2016 She Walks the Line Part 1 FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2015 Weather Patterns FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2014 - 2017 Saltwater Country travelling exhibition developed in partnership between Museums & Galleries Queensland and Gold Coast City Gallery. Curated by Michael Aird and Virginia Rigney. Gold Coast City Gallery, Australian Embassy Washington USA, AAMU Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art Utrecht Netherlands, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Cairns Regional Gallery, Gafton Regional Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, State Library of Queensland.

2014 QLD Gals FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2014 Tattersall's Landscape Art Prize Tattersall's Club Brisbane

2014 Melbourne Art Fair Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne

2014 Asia Contemporary Art Show Conrad Hong Kong

2014 The Long Hot Summer: Group Exhibition FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2012 The Bright The Bold & The Beautiful Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery Sydney

2011 Rosella Namok and Arone Meeks Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery Sydney

2009 Summer Show 2009 Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2008 Summer Show Hogarth Gallery Sydney

2007 Arte Indigena Dall’Australia: Contemporary Indigenous Art of the Lockhart River Art

2004 Wynne Prize Exhibition Art Gallery of NSW Sydney

2004 Land/Space + Family/Place Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth

2004 Hot Hotter Hottest Booker Lowe Gallery Houston Texas USA

2004 HANG 12 A Clean Ocean Foundation travelling exhibition

2004 The George White Bar St Kilda Victoria

2004 Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers Sydney

2004 QUT Art Museum Indigenous Art Collection: Works from the Oodgeroo Collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Queensland University of Technology Brisbane

2003 Story Place Indigenous Art of Cape York and the Rainforest Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane

2003 Ngaachi Ngampula (Our Country) Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2003 Beneath the Monsoon Visions North of Capricorn Artspace MacKay

2003 20th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Darwin

2003 The High Court of Australia Centenary Art Prize The High Court of Australia Canberra

2003 Water: Prints from Lockhart River and the Tiwi Islands Queensland University of Technology Art Museum Brisbane

2003 Contemporary Aboriginal Paintings from Lockhart River Columbus State University Columbus Georgia USA

2003 Kulam Kannga (Beginning): New works by the Lockhart River Art Gang The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USA

2003 Grosse Kunstausstellung 2003 - Museum Kunst Palast Düsseldorf Germany

2003 Icons That Build a Collection Cairns Regional Gallery Cairn

2003 The Year in Art S R Irwin Gallery Sydney

2003 Artworks from FNQ + Torres Strait Islands Artworkers Alliance Brisbane

2003 Big Art Small Viewer: celebrating children as artists University of Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane

2003 Lockhart River Gang Gallery Gondwana Alice Springs

2002–04 Wild Nature in Contemporary Australian Art and Craft a travelling exhibition

2002 The Queensland/Berlin Indigenous Art Exhibition Ludwig Erhard Haus Berlin Germany

2002 Indigenous Highlights from the State Art Collection Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth

2002 Indecorous Abstraction: Contemporary Women Painters Light Square Gallery Adelaide

2002 Telstra 19th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

2002 Message Stick: Journey’s End Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

2002 Collectable Aboriginal Art Event Raintree Aboriginal Fine Art Gallery Darwin

2002 International Womens’ Day Event Vivien Anderson Gallery Melbourne

2002 New Ground Main Street Gallery Hahndorf Adelaide

2001 Dreamtime: Zeitgenossische Aboriginal Art / The Dark and the Light Sammlung Essl Klosterneuburg Austria

2001 Wynne Prize Exhibition Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney

2001 Lines of Descent: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prints and Objects Queensland University of Technology Art Museum Brisbane

2001 Federation Exhibition: Local Colour Local Lives Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

2001 Gatherings Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Brisbane

2001 A few of my favourite things Fireworks Gallery Brisbane

2001 In my eyes: an exhibition of fine art prints by the Lockhart River Art Gang and Friends Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Cooktown Queensland

2001 Cape York Art Awards Laura Festival Laura Postcard Exhibition Cairns Regional Gallery

2001 Masterworks Vivien Anderson Gallery Melbourne Gatherings Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Brisbane

2001 Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro University of Queensland Art Museum Brisbane

2000 The Fifth National Indigenous Heritage Art Award Old Parliament House ACT

2000 Parma Belong Sandbeach: paintings and prints by the Lockhart River Art Gang Queensland Aboriginal Creations Brisbane

2000 Lockhart River Print Exhibition Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

2000 Uncommon World: Aspects of Contemporary Australian Art National Gallery of Australia Canberra

2000 Beyond the Pale: Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art Art Gallery of South Australia Adelaide

2000 Fortitude: New Art from Queensland Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane

2000 Telstra 17th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory and travelling

2000 Postcards Exhibition Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

2000 In my eyes: an exhibition of fine art prints by the Lockhart River Art Gang and Friends Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

2000 Olympic Exhibition Hogarth Galleries Sydney

2000 From the top: Lockhart River paintings by Samanth Hobson and Rosella Namok Andrew Baker Art Dealer Brisbane

1999 23rd Biennial of Graphic Art Lubljana Slovenia International Works on Paper Fair Sydney

1999 Postcard Exhibition Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

1999 Lockhart River Art Gang ‘we searching’ Queensland Aboriginal Creations Brisbane

1999-2001 Message Stick: Art from North Queensland Lockhart River Aboriginal Community Queensland Aboriginal Creations Brisbane and touring (co-ordinated by Visions Australia)

1998 National Indigenous Art of Place Award Old Parliament House Canberra

1998 Telstra 15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory and travelling

1997 Mepla Sarbie Art with the Lockhart River Art Gang Lockhart River Art and Culture Centre Queensland

1997 ngana nyllkana us painting with the Lockhart River Art Gang Cairns Regional Gallery Queensland

1997 Rena Ellen Jones Award Warrnambool Art Gallery Victoria

AWARDS

2004 High Court Centenary Art Award High Court of Australia Canberra 2003 Winner of the Redlands Westpac Art Prize Sydney

2000 Lin Onus Youth Award The Fifth National Indigenous Heritage Art Award

1999 Most innovative product by an indigenous artist (a set of stainless steel Sea Country Bookmarks) Momento Awards Brisbane

1999 Works on Paper (Second Prize) Cape York Art Awards Laura Festival

1999 Nominated for Young Australian of the Year Arts Section

1998 Member of the Lockhart River Art Gang which won the National Heritage Commission Art of Place Community Endeavour Award

1997 Rena Allen Jones Award Warrnambool Art Gallery Victoria: screenprint selected for acquisition

1997 Personal Development Grant Arts Queensland

COLLECTIONS

Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney

Art Gallery of South Australia Adelaide

Art Gallery of Western Australia Perth

ATSIC Collection Canberra

Australian Heritage Commission Canberra

Brisbane Club Brisbane

Cairns Regional Gallery Cairns

Columbus State University Georgia USA

Emerald Shire Council Queensland

Federal Court of Australia Brisbane

Flinders University Adelaide

International Education Services Brisbane

Macquarie University Sydney

Monash University Melbourne

National Gallery of Australia Canberra

National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne

Northern Territory University Darwin

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane

Queensland Health Rights Commission Brisbane

Queensland University of Technology Brisbane

State Library of Queensland Brisbane

The Esk Collection Tasmania

The High Court of Australia Canberra

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia Charlottesville Virginia USA

University of Queensland Art Collection Brisbane

Warrnambool Art Gallery Victoria

Wollongong University NSW

COMMISSIONS

Private - Australia and USA

Past exhibitions

SOLO

Weather Patterns III 2024

Regrowth 2022

Sandscribe 2019

Nature's Way 2018

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