5 September – 14 December 2025
The paintings of In Our Hands: Vision. Legacy. Strength. express what it means to live into a thriving legacy, respecting the stories that came before, the stories being lived now, and the stories that are yet to come. For First Nations Peoples notions of ‘before, now, after’ are all part of a vibrant present, constantly being renewed and reaffirmed through culture and caring for Country. Art, painting and stories are an important part of this renewal and reaffirmation, because even when artists are far from their Country, they can keep the connections strong.
The exhibition also holds space for the current and emerging generations of artists who acknowledge their responsibility to stay strong and carry things forward. Making art with and by hands is a physical enactment of this responsibility: telling of stories, keeping alive connection to Country, and the ongoing strength and continuity of culture.
The art of In Our Hands offers us all a vital reminder that knowledge, community and collective wellbeing is strengthened and maintained when carefully held and then shared, generation to generation. Literally, in our hands.
Artists
Ruby Djikarra Alderton
Kelvin Allen
Cissy Alone
Sophia Alone
Sydney Baumgarten
Willara Barker
Levina Biljabu
Yikartu Bumba
Rylene (Raylene) Button Gordon
Doreen Chapman
Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman
Crystal Gardiner
Zenith Kane Gardiner
Gloria
Rekeshia Goodwin
Olive Joseph
Sally Mack
Mulyatingki (Muljatingi) Marney
Rhys Dhalukmurru McLean
Nyangulya Katie Nalgood
Maisie Ward Nungurrayi
Beryl Ponce
Lynette Rowlands
Philip Simpson
Paul Thomas
Lena Willalang
Mutjalandjal (Dolphins)
Ruby Djikarra Alderton
2023
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 71 cm 23-619
$1,683
Ruby Djikarra Alderton 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 71 cm 23-620
$1,683
Mutjalandjal (Dolphins)
Woven Mat
Ruby Djikarra Alderton
Acrylic on Linen
$3,091
Fish Trap
Ruby Djikarra Alderton
Acrylic on Canvas
Untitled Cissy Alone
Acrylic on Canvas
x 40.5 cm
$90
Untitled Sophia Alone
Acrylic on Canvas
x 30.5 cm
Untitled Sophia Alone 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 71 x 61 cm 23-260
$1,600
Untitled Sophia Alone 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 71 x 61 cm 23-259
$1,600
Untitled Sophia Alone 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
30.5 x 30.5 cm 23-338
$325
Seahorses
Untitled
Untitled Yikartu Bumba
Tharrpul - Mud Crab
Rylene (Raylene) Button Gordon 2024
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 45.5 cm 24-897
$325
Untitled Rylene (Raylene) Button Gordon 2024
Acrylic on Canvas
40.5 x 40.5 cm 24-906
$1,083
Untitled Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman
$3,233
Untitled Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman 2023 Acrylic on Canvas
Ngurra (Home Country, Camp)
Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman
2024
Acrylic on Canvas
30.5 x 30.5 cm 24-487
$375
Ngurra (Home Country, Camp)
Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman
2025
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 45.5 cm
$816
Ngurra (Home Country, Camp) Maywokka (Mayiwalku) Chapman 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 51 x 51 cm 23-421
$1,825
Staircase to the moon
Crystal Gardiner
Untitled Zenith Kane Gardiner
Untitled Zenith Kane Gardiner 2022
Acrylic on Canvas 91 x 91.5 cm 22-378
$3,033
Untitled Gloria 2022
Acrylic on Canvas 61 x 91.5 cm 22-121
$2,066
Untitled Rekeshia Goodwin
Acrylic on Canvas
76 x 101.5 cm 25-312
$1,165
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 45.5 cm 25-200
$295
Untitled Rekeshia Goodwin
Untitled Olive Joseph 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 40.5 cm 23-489
$658
Acrylic on Canvas 51 x 30.5 cm 22-012
$250
Untitled Sally Mack 2022
30.5 x 56 cm 22-78
45.5 x 61 cm 23-720
$458
Untitled Sally Mack 2022
Acrylic on Canvas
$258
Untitled Sally Mack 2023
Acrylic on Canvas
$2,916
Ngurra (Home Country, Camp)
Mulyatingki (Muljadingi) Marney
Acrylic on Canvas
Ngurra (Home Country, Camp) Mulyatingki (Muljadingi) Marney
Wawul Punmu Way Mulyatingki (Muljadingi) Marney
on Canvas
x 61 cm
Three Manta Rays
Rhys Dhalukmurru McLean
Acrylic on Canvas
Guya (Fish) Rhys Dhalukmurru McLean
35.5 x 35.5 cm
$530
30.5 x 30.5
Pair of finches
Nyangulya Katie Nalgood
Acrylic on Canvas
Zebra Finch
Nyangulya Katie Nalgood
Acrylic on Canvas
45.5 x 61 cm 21-921
x 76 cm 22-172
Untitled Lynette Rowlands 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
30.5 x 40.5 cm 21-965
$241
Untitled
Simpson
Untitled
Simpson
Untitled Phillip Simpson
on Canvas
Seven Sisters
Paul Thomas 2018
Acrylic on Canvas
61 x 91.5 cm 18-1111
$1,058
Healthy Food Team
Paul Thomas 2019
Acrylic on Canvas
61 x 91.5 cm 19-161
$1,058
Woodie Woodie
Coongan River at Marble Bar
Untitled Lena Willalang 2023
Acrylic on Canvas 71 x 61 cm 23-463
$1,091
FORM Building a State of Creativity and Spinifex Hill Studio
For nearly two decades, cultural organisation FORM Building a State of Creativity has worked to support the creative community of Western Australia’s remote Pilbara region. In 2008, realising there was no established support for Aboriginal artists living in the Hedland area, FORM started providing materials, art sessions and mentoring opportunities specifically so that local artists could paint together and develop their practices. This group of artists were the foundation of the collective that now paints at Spinifex Hill Studio, one of Australia’s most dynamic art centres, and the only Aboriginal art collective in the wider Hedland area.
In 2014, with the support of Principal Partner BHP, FORM established the Studio’s permanent home in South Hedland. This is essentially FORM’s base in the Pilbara, and the Studio’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal support and management personnel are part of the FORM team. From Monday to Friday the Studio opens to facilitate the practices of a core group of around twenty artists daily, however around a hundred artists are associated with the Studio
and will paint there when in town. With a focus on acrylic painting, artists are given professional support in the preparation, creation and documentation of artwork.
They are also given transport to and from the studio, lunch, and the opportunity to work with studio staff in refining their paintings for exhibitions, awards, markets and other professional opportunities.
Artists regularly participate in major national exhibitions and events, and are represented in national collections including the Art Gallery of South Australia, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Curtin University, Flinders University Art Museum, the Janet Holmes à Court Collection, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, and the Western Australian Museum.
The aim has been to make the Studio a safe, holistic and dynamic environment for artists, and it has grown into an important cultural and community place for South Hedland and the wider Pilbara region. It is relatively unique in Australia as an urban-
based art centre representing Aboriginal artists from numerous cultural backgrounds and language groups; there is no dominant ‘house style,’ rather the Studio supports an eclectic range of art practices in recognition of the diversity of Indigenous experience.
Many artists have been able to build esteem and pride through their art making, gain confidence to share stories in a culturally appropriate way, travel outside their home region to attend exhibitions and art fairs, and create new income streams for themselves and their families.
Most importantly, the Studio has supported the artists in articulating their culture to audiences around Australia and the world, helping build the reputation of the Pilbara as a dynamic cultural and artistic artmaking region.
Spinifex Hill Studio is an initiative of FORM Building a State of Creativity. The Studio is supported by its Principal Partner BHP, the Federal Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program, and Pilbara Ports. FORM is supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Arts Organisation Investment program.
©FORM 2025. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, copyright for imagery and written content in this publication is held by FORM Building a State of Creativity or the individual contributors, where applicable. Every effort has been made to adhere to best practice ICIP protocols.
FORM is a registered trademark owned by FORM Building a State of Creativity Limited.
Spinifex Hill Studio
18 Hedditch Street South Hedland WA 6722
mail@spinifexhillstudio.com.au
@spinifexhillstudio
www.spinifexhillstudio.com.au
FORM Building a State of Creativity
39 Gugeri Street
Claremont WA 6010
www.form.net.au
mail@form.net.au
08 9385 2200
spinifexhillstudio
spinifexhillstudio
spinifexhillstudio.com.au
@formwa form.net.au
