Born in 1949, Gloria Pannka was a senior Western Arrarnta woman who lived in Thakaperte (near Hamilton Downs). She was a second generation Hermannsburg School watercolour artist, as her father Claude Pannka was one of the original Hermannsburg School watercolour artists.
Gloria was part of the art centre Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre.

Like his contemporary Albert Namatjira, Claude developed an interest in painting when artist Rex Battarbee visited Hermannsburg in 1934. By 1950, Claude was painting full time and had become a highly sought-after artist.

Gloria’s father taught her to paint with watercolours when she was a young girl. She continued to paint in the style of watercolour landscape that typifies the Hermannsburg School tradition. 
She used fine detail and subtle tones to capture the West MacDonnell Ranges where she lived and painted.
Gloria passed away in 2020.

Gloria’s work has featured in a number of exhibitions throughout her career. In 2008 she received a Highly Commended award for her painting in the NATSIAA awards (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards) which was then acquired by the NT Museum and Art Gallery. Gloria’s work West MacDonnell Ranges was also acquired by the Parliament House Art Collection Canberra. Her paintings are exhibited in many public and private collections.

Gloria is one the artists participating in the Namatjira Wearable Art Collection project.

 

>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SELECTION OF ARTWORKS

 

Temps forts de sa carrière / Career highlights:

Collections, florilège / Selected Collections

  • Queensland Art Gallery │Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
  • University of Technology Gallery (UTS), Sydney
  • National Museum of Australia (NMA), Canberra
  • University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane
  • Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
  • Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra
  • Northen Territory Museum & Art Gallery, Darwin
  • Araluen Art Gallery, Alice Springs

Projets spéciaux / Special projects

  • 2017  Honorary Guest and exhibition launch, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
  • 2017  Google Doodle design (Australia) on 28 July for the 115th birthday of Albert Namatjira 
  • 2017  Parrtjima, Festival of Light, Alice Springs (honouring space)
  • 2016  Parrtjima, Festival of Light, Alice Springs (ground projection)
  • 2015  Print Workshop Honorary Guest, Australian National University (ANU), Canberra
  • 2014  Knara Nunaka Tjurretja – Our Big Country: The West MacDonnell Ranges, highly commended at the 31st Telstra Arts Awards
  • 2014  Public Art, mural at the Alice Plaza, Alice Springs
  • 2011–2014  The Namatjira Play, Big hArt production

Expositions, florilège / Selected exhibitions

  • 2017  What if this photograph is by Albert Namatjira? TARNANTHI, Art Gallery of SA (AGSA), Adelaide
  • 2017  A Widening Gap: The Intervention, 10 Years On, The Cross Art Projects, Sydney
  • 2016  Abducted!, Alcaston Gallery
  • 2015  The Namatjira Collection, TARNANTHI, Art Gallery of SA (AGSA), Adelaide
  • 2014  Namatjira to Now, Parliament House, Canberra
  • 2014  Women Artists of the Hermannsburg School of Art, The Residency, Alice Springs
  • 2014  Living Watercolours, Southbank Centre, Londres / London
  • 2013  Contemporary Aboriginal Art From Australia, Château de l’Étang, Paris
  • 2008  Prix honorifique / Highly Commended, NATSIAA, Darwin

 

Image: Gloria Pannka at the “We are in Wonder LAND- New Experimental Art from Central Australia” exhibition in Sydney – Photograph by silversalt