Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country Opens at National Gallery of Australia After Three-Year Controversy

Ngura Puḻka – Epic Country has finally launched at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra after a three-year postponement stemming from disputes regarding non-Indigenous studio assistants. The exhibition showcases 30 large-scale artworks created by 49 First Nations artists from the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, illustrating desert landscapes and tjukurpa (ancestral narratives). Most pieces measure three-by-three metres, with the largest reaching three-by-five metres. Featured artists include Nyunmiti Burton, Barbara Moore, Matjangka Nyukana Norris, and others. Initially set for 2023, it was retracted following allegations from the Murdoch press, but three investigations exonerated the artists and the APY Art Centre Collective. The exhibition is open from 11 April to 23 August 2026.