Damien and Yilpi Marks / My Country (19789)

Damien Marks was born in 1967 in Haasts Bluff in the Northern Territory. He later moved to Papunya with his family, where he was introduced to painting at an early age by some of the founding figures of the Western Desert art movement, including Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri and Uta Uta Tjangala. Through them, he was taught important Dreaming stories and cultural knowledge that continue to underpin his work today. Damien has since become a respected Ngurratjuta artist.

Yilpi Marks was born in 1969 in Ernabella, South Australia. She was taught her Dreaming stories by her parents and grandparents, growing up in a strong artistic family. Her mother, Tjulkiwa Atira-Atira, and her late father, Michael Atira-Atira, were both highly regarded artists, with works held in major collections including the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Gallery of Australia.

Yilpi and Damien married and lived together on Damien’s Country near Papunya before later moving to South Australia. Today, they reside in Alice Springs, where they continue to paint together regularly.

Working side by side as a husband-and-wife partnership, their collaborative practice is both rare and significant. Together, they often depict ceremonial themes central to their culture, including body paint designs, sacred objects and adornments associated with important cultural practices.

Painting in a style characteristic of the Western Desert tradition, they use intricate dot work to build layered compositions that map Country from an aerial perspective. Through this process, they convey deep cultural knowledge while maintaining the integrity of what can be shared.

Their work reflects a shared commitment to preserving and passing on culture, with each painting representing not only artistic expression, but a continuation of story, identity and connection to Country.

Selected Exhibitions

• 2025 At The Gallery, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
• 2024 ICONIC, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2021 Sounds of Summer 2, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
• 2020 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2019 Defining Tradition; The Colourists, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2016 The Panel Show, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
• 2012 Heirs and Successors, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle

Damien and Yilpi Marks bring a distinctive energy to contemporary Aboriginal art, working side by side to create richly layered depictions of Country that combine cultural knowledge with a bold, expressive style.

Their paintings draw on the legacy of the Western Desert art movement, with Damien having been mentored by renowned artists including Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri, Uta Uta Tjangala and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. Through this foundation, their work incorporates important cultural symbolism, including ceremonial objects, ancestral markers and elements connected to ritual practices.

Together, they map out Country from an aerial perspective, depicting the rhythms and features of the desert landscape. Flowing forms represent hills, creeks, rocky outcrops and waterholes, while surrounding details reference bush foods, desert flora and culturally significant sites.

Their use of colour is particularly striking. Earthy reds, warm oranges and deep browns reflect the desert landscape, while vibrant blues, greens and yellows introduce contrast and movement across the canvas. Fine dot work brings the composition together, creating a sense of depth, texture and continuity.

The result is a vivid and immersive interpretation of Country, reflecting both cultural knowledge and a shared artistic vision.