Kathleen Buzzacott / Green Budgies (KB290)

Kathleen Buzzacott is an artist, poet, designer and entrepreneur, of Pitjantjatjara, Scottish and English heritage, born in Alice Springs Central Australia in 1970. Her Mother’s country (Pitlands) spans across the borders of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Kathleen’s Language/Tribal Group is Pitjantjatjara and Western Aranda.

In her early childhood, Kathleen moved to Queensland with her Father, brother and sister. At the age of ten Kathleen, her brother and sister returned to Central Australia to move back to “Country” to live with their Mother at Hermannsburg.

Kathleen has been painting for many years along with her sister Julie-Anne Paige, who is a prominent artist in her own right. Julie-Anne is very well known for her Aboriginal Fabric Designs along with various forms of creative art.

Kathleen paints Bush Tucker and children’s stories which reflect her own happy childhood growing up with family out bush. Kathleen is recognised not only as a prominent painter, but also in other art mediums and is the designer and creator of a popular range of Aboriginal jewellery incorporating natural seeds in modern contemporary settings. In 2016 Kathleen started working with Australian giftware company, Koh Living and her designs are featured on a range of products.

Kathleen lives with her husband and two sons on his traditional land – “lwupataka” – West of Alice Springs.

Kathleen’s fine Central Desert Dot Painting style celebrates her discovery and connection to her indigenous heritage.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
• 2025 Soft Country | Kathleen Buzzacott, The Roastery, Alice Springs
• 2024 Scenes of Country | Kathleen Buzzacott, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

Selected Group Exhibitions
• 2024 ICONIC, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2023 Central Desert Showcase, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2019 Exhibition of Aboriginal Art, Maliyaa Aboriginal Art Gallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• 2015 Lasting Expressions, Exhibition together with Reg Dodd, photographer, and Lyn Hovey, artist, Olive Pink Botanical Gardens, Alice Springs

Highlights & Achievements
• 2024 National Contemporary Art Prize, Canberra – Finalist
• 2022 Book cover for the Western Arrarnta Dictionary
• 2021 Better World Art: Design for aprons, tea towels, bags
• 2021 Buluru: Design for their range of homewares and clothing
• 2017 Kathleen Buzzacott Art Studio Best Design Tourism Award
• 2017 Australian Company Koh Living release coffee cups, canisters, and candles with Kathleen’s designs
• 2016 Australian Company Koh Living: Kathleen’s designs are featured on tea lights, Dreamtime Collection
• 2014 ATT King Tour company chooses Kathleen’s design for ATT King coach doors
• 2000 Lasseter’s Crown Plaza Hotel & Casino: selected balcony partitions and pool area feature Kathleen’s designs

This stunning artwork is inspired by the carefree days Kathleen spent as a child running around in the bush, creating happy memories that she shares through her art.

Kathleen is renowned for her finely detailed depictions of Central Australian birds — from the striking Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Sulphur-crested and Major Mitchell Cockatoos, to the gentle Boobook and Barn Owls, playful Galahs, and the tiny Zebra Finches, Green Budgies, and Fairy-wrens.

Her talent for capturing the character and spirit of each bird brings them vividly to life on canvas.

Green budgies are native to Australia. Budgerigars are highly nomadic. They generally fly north during winter, covering significant distances as they migrate. Flocks follow rainfall and during the rainy times, you will find an abundance of these little birds nesting in the hollows of the River Red Gums along Roe Creek, where we live.