Rosella Namok is one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary artists. Working with layered paint and varied textural applications, Rosella creates paintings that carry a strong physical presence.

Her work is recognised for its atmospheric surfaces and finger dragged technique. Rosella’s paintings reflect the environmental influences and stories of everyday life in and around the Lockhart River community.

Painting since the age of sixteen, Rosella has steadily developed a body of work over more than three decades. Through this commitment to painting, her work has been exhibited throughout Australia and internationally, and is held in major public institutions and private collections.

Rosella paints between her Cairns studio and Lockhart River while continuing her role as Arts Centre Coordinator, mentoring and supporting artists within the community.

In 2001 and 2002, Rosella was listed among Art Collector magazine’s “50 Most Collectable Artists,” recognising her rapid rise within the Australian contemporary art world.

In 2013, two of her paintings, Stinging Rain and Marks on Sand, After King Tide, were transformed into monumental stage backdrops for the Houston Ballet production of The Rite of Spring, directed by Stanton Welch. Enlarged to approximately 35 x 65 feet, the works placed Rosella’s paintings on the stage of one of the world’s leading ballet companies.

Rosella’s paintings are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Queensland Art Gallery, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the High Court of Australia, and international collections in the United States and Europe.

Her paintings connect with people from all walks of life. That is why Rosella Namok is the people’s artist.