Motorbike Paddy Ngale Finalist in 2023 Telstra NATSIAA

Finalists have been announced for the 2023 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) and our very own Motorbike Paddy Ngale, Ahalpere elder, is one of 31 from the Northern Territory. We are very happy for him and this great achievement.

Born in 1932, Motorbike Paddy is the senior boss man of Ahalpere country (in Utopia) and plays a significant role in how the artists of this area depict their Dreamings. He himself uses a common Ahalpere technique of superimposed dotting, as well as symbols and loose illustrations to articulate his Dreaming stories. He is not a prolific artist and paints very slowly and deliberately. 

In his early days, he worked as a Stockman rounding up horses and bullocks to drove into Alice Springs. He was married to the late Kathleen Ngale, a prominent Utopia artist, who passed away in 2021 and together they had four children. 

Telstra NATSIAA

The Telstra NATSIAA is the longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art award in Australia, and is a celebration of culture, artistic practice and connection to Country.

Winners will be announced on 11 August and all works will be exhibited at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory on Larrakia Country (Darwin) thereafter. 

Finalists have been announced for the 2023 Telstra NATSIAA and our very own Motorbike Paddy Ngale, Ahalpere elder, is one of 31 from the Northern Territory.