Anindilyakwa artists with their artworks on Groote Eylandt © Anindilyakwa Arts
Aboriginal Art from Groote Eylandt
Anindilyakwa Arts is the cultural centre of Groote Eylandt, a remote island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It preserves Anindilyakwa traditions while supporting new forms of creative expression.
The centre supports painting, weaving, sculpture, jewellery, and bush-dyed fabrics. Each work reflects ancestral stories, Country, and cultural beliefs passed through generations. Weaving in particular is a defining practice, with artists using fibres gathered from Country to create baskets, mats, and sculptural forms that hold ancestral knowledge and sustain cultural traditions.
Anindilyakwa artists have also become well known for their Bush Dye practice. Developing from traditional mangkurrkw (pandanus) dyeing to the beautiful, textile based artform it is today, bush dye requires artists to have an in-depth knowledge of, and relationship with, Country, plants, and culture.
The art centre provides income and recognition for artists. It also preserves language and cultural practices, ensuring knowledge and identity are carried forward. Visitors can meet artists, see works in progress, and learn the stories behind the designs. The gallery and shop offer authentic art that directly supports the community.
Artists at Anindilyakwa Arts with completed works © Anindilyakwa Land Council
Anindilyakwa Arts at a glance
- Origins: Founded in 2005 to support artists on Groote Eylandt.
- Language/Culture: Anindilyakwa people, one of the few language groups from the island region.
- Art Style: Weaving, bush-dyed textiles, painting, sculpture, and jewellery rooted in ancestral stories and materials from Country.
- Cultural Significance: Sustains Anindilyakwa identity, passes on knowledge, and preserves language and tradition.
- Recognition: Works exhibited nationally; weaving and bush-dyed fabrics highly regarded in contemporary Aboriginal art.
