William Mackinnon Revisits Desert Paintings in Phoenix Exhibition

William Mackinnon's exhibition 'Phoenix' at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) reworks paintings from his transformative years living with Indigenous communities in Central and Western Australia. After a European art education and career, Mackinnon spent 2008 with the Kintore and Kiwirrkurra communities, an experience that 'blew apart' his Western training. The series, completed between 2019 and 2025, revisits earlier 'in situ' works from that period, deepening them with mature perspective and experimental techniques. Iconography includes graffitied road signs, rusted cars, and derelict houses, with materials like automotive enamel, glitter, liquid nails, and charcoal washes. Paintings such as 'Community' (2010) evolve into 'Our Secret History' (2019). Sixteen large-scale works are displayed alongside earlier iterations, tracing artistic and personal growth. The exhibition runs until 24 May 2026 at MAGNT in the Northern Territory.