Indigenous Art of the Dreamtime

William Sandy

William Sandy was born near Ernabella, a Pitjantjatjara community in South Australia in the mid 1940’s. He attended the mission school at Ernabella. William moved to Papunya in 1973 and two years later did his first painting for Papunya Tula Artists, after teaching himself to paint by watching the older artists. At Papunya he married Violet Nakamarra, Michael Nelson Jagamarra’s sister. They have four children. William was the first of the Pitjantjatjara involved in the contemporary art movement.

66. Emu Dreaming 1995, 122 x 84cm

It was not till the early 1980’s that he began painting regularly for the artists’ cooperative company. In 1985 William won the Northern Territory Art Award and his unique style has achieved recognition both nationally and internationally.

From the time William arrived at Papunya he has worked for the Papunya Council and as a health worker for the Papunya Medical Service. William has recently ceased other employment to concentrate full-time on his painting.

The dreamings he paints include Snake, Water, Dingo and Emu. He uses traditional ochre colours and concentrates on tans, yellows and whites.

His work was included in the Dreamings show which toured the USA in 1988-9, and in the subsequent show of Papunya Tula Artists at the John Weber Gallery in New York. He had a solo exhibition in 1990 at Gabrielle Pizzi. Collections which include his work are Robert Holmes’ a Court, Perth; Broken Hill Art Gallery; Wollongong City Art Gallery; Donald Kahn Collection, USA; National and State Galleries throughout Australia.

67. Emu Dreaming 1996, 127 x 59cm




68. Emu Dreaming 1995, 133 x 52cm



69. Emu Dreaming 1996, 122 x 91cm

This painting depicts an Emu Dreaming associated with the artist’s country, Kanpi near Anmata in northern South Australia. It tells of two Emu Ancestors during their epic Dreamtime journey northwest towards Kintore in the Gibson Desert. The background dotting reflects the visual aspects of the landscape such as sandhills and vegetation.