The People's Artist
Get to know more about Rosella
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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.
Awards & Achievements
Celebrating milestones and achievements in the journey.
By 2007, Rosella had already held approximately 18 solo exhibitions internationally and across Australia before the age of 30.
The Gold Award
Winner of Queensland’s richest painting prize at the Rockhampton Museum of Art for Old Gals Yarnin’ I–III.
2024
High Court of Australia Centenary Art Prize
Winner for the monumental nine panel work Today Now… We All Got To Go By The Same Laws, later acquired by the High Court of Australia.
2003
Redlands Westpac Art Prize
Winner of the Open Award. The painting was acquired into the Redlands Collection.
2003
Lin Onus Youth Award
Winner at the Indigenous Heritage Art Awards.
2000
Centenary Medal
Awarded for distinguished service to art and community.
International Exhibitions & Projects
Rosella Namok’s work has been exhibited internationally across Europe, the United States, and the Pacific region.
By 2007, Rosella had already held approximately 18 solo exhibitions internationally and across Australia before the age of 30.
United Kingdom
- October Gallery, London — ’nother side (2004)
Germany
- The Queensland/Berlin Indigenous Art Exhibition — Berlin (2002)
- Great Art Exhibition — Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf (2003)
United States
- Kulam Kannga — Kluge-Ruhe Museum, Virginia (2003)
- Columbus State University, Georgia (2003)
Slovenia
- 23rd Biennial of Graphic Art, Ljubljana (1999)
Switzerland
- Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture collection, Môtiers
New Caledonia
- Festival of Pacific Arts, Nouméa (2000)
Korea
- International touring production of Yarnin’ Up backdrop works (2003)
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- Up North — Melbourne (2006)
- My Puuya… My Life Essence — Brisbane (2005)
- Kungkay Ma (Up North) — Brisbane (2004)
- Rosella — Sydney (2003)
- Rosella Namok — Melbourne (2003)
- Tinta — Sydney (2002)
- Happen’ This Way — Brisbane (2002)
- Ee Right This Way — Sydney (2001)
- Melpa Sarbie Paint — Brisbane (2001)
- ’nother way — Melbourne (2000)
- Me Come From ’Yah — Sydney (2000)
- ’bout here… Lockhart River — Sydney (1999)
Major Collections
National & State Collections
- National Gallery of Australia
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Queensland Art Gallery
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- Art Gallery of Western Australia
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Government & Institutional Collections
- High Court of Australia
- Federal Court of Australia
- Artbank
- State Library of Queensland
International Collections
- Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia
- Columbus State University Collection, USA
- Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Switzerland