Artist Spotlight: Ada Beasley

“I do painting to look back on the old days when we went hunting. My Mum took us out looking for bush medicine and yams and goanna. I learned about painting by looking at the flowers and trees in the swap area around Ampilatwatja where the bush flowers bloom in lots of colours. It’s good for my kids to look at my paintings and learn about our ways.” 

– Ada Pula Beasley

Known for her vibrant depictions of Alyawarr Country, Ada’s work is noteworthy for her use of a dabbing technique employed to create many brief hazy strokes that coalesce to form trees, shrubs and flowers. Ada’s pallet is influenced by flora local to the small community of Wutunugurra (Epenarra) which is nestled in the foothills of Ilytwelepenty (the Davenport Ranges).

Ada’s landscapes sit at a crossroads between representational and abstract. Works observe environmental changes seen over the course of the day or the year. Rhythmic markings capture the desert after the rain, when the local flora turns suddenly green and the red dirt is blanketed in wildflowers. Ada’s focus on light and colour over form recalls an Impressionistic style while her use of repetitive layers of heavy dabbing draws influence from the greats of the nearby Utopia homelands.

Ada began her career with the Artists of Ampilatwatja before she moved to Wutunugurra, there she continues to paint with the Epenarra Artists as a senior member of the Artists of the Barkly collective. She remains an important artist in the Barkly region.

My Country, Ada Beasley 2022