Mangkaja Arts is the Aboriginal-owned art centre in the township of Fitzroy Crossing, located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Mangkaja, meaning wet weather shelter, was established in the late 1980s by a small group of artists to support cultural, social and economic development in the region. Incorporated in 1993, Mangkaja represents artists across five language groups – Bunuba, Gooniyandi and Nyikina of martuwarra (river country) and Walmajarri and Wangkajunga from the jilji (sand hill country) of the Great Sandy Desert. Mangkaja runs a significant cultural program, returning artists and their families to important cultural sites for art and cultural practices.
Mangkaja artists are renowned for their uninhibited style and lively use of colour, painting images of country that share stories of culture and identity. Mangkaja artists produce works on canvas, board, paper and prints along with stunning carved artefacts.
Learn more about the boab nut carving tradition
Mangkaja exhibits nationally and internationally with many artists represented through each of the state galleries, the National Gallery of Australia and significant private and public collections around the world. Mangkaja Artists continue to be selected for major Indigenous art awards.
The Ngurrara Canvas – Painted by Ngurrara artists and claimants, coordinated by Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency – May 1997 – 10 metres x 8 metres – Photo Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency
All images courtesy Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency.