Artist

Rene Sundown paints her memories of the Country near Erldunda in the Northern Territory where her parents worked on nearby stations and where she was raised. In fields of cream and gold, intersected with bold linear compositional markers, Sundown’s paintings recall the subtle shifts in colour of the Ngura Tali, Sand Dune Country, of her childhood.

“This is my thinking and painting memories. Memories of what I saw, sand dunes that we played on. When I’m painting my feelings became strong and all my memories come back… This is the sand dunes and spinifex grass. Sand Dune Country was our home.” – Rene Sundown

Sundown is a senior artist and longstanding director of the Iwantja Art Centre in Indulkana, South Australia, whose practice is dedicated to passing on knowledge to future generations.

Having exhibited nationally and internationally for over a decade, Sundown’s career catapulted in 2024 following her debut solo exhibition at Alcaston Gallery. In the same year Sundown was named as a finalist for three highly prestigious national awards, the Muswellbrook Art Prize, one of the richest prizes for painting in regional Australia; the Wynne Prize presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales; and, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

© The Artist, Iwantja Arts and Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne

For an extended CV, please contact Alcaston Gallery at art@alcastongallery.com.au