Name: Sharon Porter
Language: Ngaanyatjarra
Community: Tjukurla
Biography:
"I like to paint my grandmother’s Country around Kiwirrkurra. I was painting for a long time in Tjukurla. I like to paint with all the ladies, sitting around painting all together.”
- Sharon Porter
Sharon Porter is part of the new generation of Martumili Artists. Inspired by the wisdom and creative legacy of the most senior and established artists in the group, these young and emerging artists are moving desert art forward in innovative and experimental directions.
Born in Alice Springs, Sharon grew up moving between remote desert communities along the Western Australian and Northern Territory borders; Kintore, Tjukurla, Warakuna and Kaltukatjarra (also known as Docker River). At this time, she lived principally with her grandfather, Anatjari Tjakamarra (dec.), and grandmother, Katjarra Butler- both celebrated artists in their own right. More recently, Sharon has been living in Kunawarritji with her aunt and fellow Martumili Artist, Roma Gibson.
Sharon learned to paint organically, watching her grandfather and grandmother at work and in this way absorbing their distinctive techniques and styles. In her own paintings, elements of Anatjari and Katjarra’s styles can be identified, with her bold, unrestrained geometric designs reminiscent of her grandmother’s work, and her intricate patterning paying homage to her grandfather’s style.
As stated by Sharon, she paints principally about her grandmother’s Country in the Kiwirrkurra area. Kiwirrkurra is a rockhole located in the tali (sandhill) Country of the Gibson Desert, to the south west of Lake McKay. An Aboriginal community by the same name is now located nearby, to the west of the water source.
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