Alcaston Gallery will uphold its reputation for showcasing the best in contemporary indigenous Australian artwork as we profile five of the most exciting new & acclaimed artists today:

Emily Evan's sophisticated depictions of Balibal, the spotted stingray, are created with a lightness of touch, the fine white dots swirling over the canvas in patterns that are at once creature and cosmos. It is both a contemporary expression of her beliefs, culture and country, and a personal metaphor for her relationship with her beloved and revered father, whose teachings and cultural intellect inspired Emily to become an artist. Emily’s meticulously executed paintings have been captivating art lovers, most recently when Alcaston Gallery exhibited her art at Melbourne Art Fair 2012, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2012 and Korea International Art Fair 2012.

Sally Gabori has taken the art world by storm since her introduction to paint and canvas in 2005, and is one of the most highly regarded and sought after contemporary Australian artists. Sally Gabori has had an incredible year of recognition; in May she was named winner of the inaugural $50,000 Gold Award for contemporary Australian painting and this month was announced winner of the Togart Contemporary Art Award. Sally Gabori is currently a finalist in the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize at Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria.

Clinton Nain’s paintings and mixed media installation works draw from the domestic realm, but point to far broader complexities. Through his artwork Clinton Nain fervently engages a political, cultural and social discourse. Often using household mediums such as bleach, heritage paint, bitumen and found objects, Clinton Nain tackles issues of race, gender and the colonisation of his people. A mid-career contemporary artist, Clinton Nain exhibits both nationally and internationally and is represented in most major institutions in Australia, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery and Art Gallery of South Australia. Clinton Nain is currently a finalist in the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize at Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria.

Stemming from the success of their recent exhibition at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne emerging Tiwi elders, the late Womikinimirri Puruntatameri and Cornelia Tipuamantumirri, bring their new ochre paintings to Sydney art lovers. Both artists use their country as inspiration; Womikinimirri’s paintings can be read as detailed Tiwi maps, each intricate brushstroke reflecting his country as viewed from above. Cornelia Tipuamantumirri paints the tidal movements of the sea; the patterns in her luminous paintings emulate the waves breaking on the coastline, as they capture sunlight glistening on the water’s surface. Both Womikinimirri Puruntatameri and Cornelia Tipuamantumirri were selected as finalists in this year’s 29th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.