This painting depicts Sharon’s Grandfather’s country. This place is in the Witura National Park on the Northern Territory and South Australia border just south of Finke. This area is a beautiful place with plenty of water. There are many trees, lakes and swimming holes.
Name: Sharon Doolan
Language: Pitjantjara
Community: Blackstone
Biography:
Sharon Doolan is a young artist who works with Papulankutja Artists, based in Blackstone — a remote community near the Gibson Desert in Western Australia. Her paintings reflect her deep connection to her Grandfather’s Country, Aputula (Finke), situated on the border of the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Born in Alice Springs and raised in Aputula, Sharon moved to Blackstone in 2008 with her partner and young family. Around this time, she took a small plane flight over Aputula and saw the intricate patterns of rivers, salt lakes, and desert country from above. This aerial perspective became a defining influence on her art practice.
Sharon’s paintings map the surface of Aputula from memory, capturing the movement of watercourses, salt pans, and the textures of the desert landscape. Her work blends a topographical precision with a deep emotional connection to place.
Alongside her art practice, Sharon works for the Blackstone Home and Community Care (HACC) program, helping prepare and deliver meals to elderly community members.
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