89cm x 170cm Ochre on Canvas, 2002
ARTIST PROFILE

Alan Griffiths

Alan resides in Kununurra with his wife Peggy, and both are renowned artists.  He has been painting since the early 1980’s and his talent is recognised Australia-wide and Internationally. He paints both for Waringarri Art Centre and as an independent artist.

He has been fortunate in that he is one of a few selected artists whose attributes were outstanding enough to gain recognition early in the Aboriginal Art movement – with Peggy, he exhibited with and participated in printmaking programmes alongside some of the most successful ochre artists in the East Kimberley region – Jack Britten, Queenie McKenzie, Rover Thomas (all deceased).  His fastidious approach to his work has gained him an enviable reputation, commanding high prices for his paintings.

Alan’s limited edition prints of his own corroboree “Bali Bali Balga Joonba” were instantly successful, being collected by Parliament House.  He and Peggy were invited to present this corroboree at the ATSIC Art Awards Perth, with dancing headboards woven by Peggy. This now famous corroboree is danced in Kununurra annually, and Alan and Peggy still travel (2009) extensively for cultural events, including ceremony and law for the youngsters.

Alan was born at Victoria River Downs Station in 1933 and worked as a stockman on many stations, including Newry, Ivanhoe, The “Elsey”, Maninbelli, Elizabeth Downs, Delamere, Willaroo and as head stockman on Beswick.  When the town of Kununurra emerged, in 1965 Alan became a machine operator for the Government. His language is Ngarinyman/Ngaliwurru and he is one of the leading Elders in the East Kimberley.

His style is totally distinctive, elegant and precise and with every painting he shares the story depicting his culture, his knowledge of the country and his diverse experience of life.

Selected Exhibitions

2004
• Kimberley Focus, Concert Hall PIAF, Perth
• Newcastle Regional Gallery, Newcastle
• Waringarri Song and Dance Cycle, UWA, Perth

2003
• Kimberley Art, Short Street Gallery, Broome
• Moon Show, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
• Solo Exhibition, Span Galleries, Melbourne

2002
• Warrgebarenkoo, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
• Kimberley Ochre, Cullen Bay, Darwin
• Heyson Prize, Adelaide

2001
• Groundwork, Fremantle Arts Centre, Perth
• All About Art, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
• New Wave Kimberley Art, Corowa House, Margaret River

2000
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Darwin

1999
• Kimberley Art Award, Kununurra
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Darwin

1997
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Darwin

1995
• Fremantle Print Award, Perth

Selected Collections
• Parliament House Collection, Canberra
• University of Woollongong
• Edith Cowan University Collection, Perth
• Cable Beach Resort, Broome (Commission)
• Royal Perth Hospital Collection, Perth
• Broadmeadows Health Service Collection, Melbourne
• Artbank, Sydney
• Bachelor Institute, Darwin
• Private Collections, Australia and International

Bibliography
• Kleinert and Neal, The Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture, Oxford University Press, 2001