A senior Manggalili leader from northeast Arnhem Land, Narritjin Maymuru was one of the great intellectual and artistic figures of twentieth-century Australia. Renowned as both a mediator and ceremonial authority, he harnessed art as a conduit between worlds, preserving Yolŋu law while engaging new audiences with its visual poetry. His practice encompassed painting, sculpture, and design, distinguished by meticulous linework, layered symbolism, and conceptual clarity. From the groundbreaking Yirrkala Church Panels of 1962 to his participation in the American–Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, Maymuru’s vision bridged ancestral narratives and modern expression. His work is represented in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, and major international museums. A mentor to generations of Yolŋu artists, Narritjin’s legacy endures as a foundation of cross-cultural understanding and artistic innovation in Australia’s visual history.
1
c. 1931-2021
North east Arnhem Land
Manggalili
Buku-Ḻarrŋgay Mulka Northern Territory
Works Available
Narritjin Maymuru
Yingapungapu at Djarrakpi, circa 1962
Narritjin Maymuru
Untitled
Relevant Exhibitions
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Bark Masters
17 July - 23 August 2025
Melbourne
SIGNIFICANT 2024
30 May - 12 July 2024
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BARK & WOOD
16 January - 24 February 2023
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