Selma Coulthard First Nations Australia, b. 1954

Lives and works in alice springs, nt, Australia

Selma Coulthard emerges from the heart of Hermannsburg and Tempe Downs Station in Central Australia, her artistic journey deeply rooted in her family's Tjukurpa (Dreaming) and a connection to the law that resonates through her work. A celebration of heightened colour, remarkable detail, and lyrical lines that find intricate patterns within the landscape—Coulthard’s discernment extends far beyond superficial renditions, inviting viewers to marvel at subtle moments that usually pass us by. For her, painting becomes a powerful social statement, weaving threads of truth-telling, life in the missions, faith, and a positive vision for the future. Her work transcends the canvas, embodying the depth of cultural heritage and connection to land.

“My name is Selma Coulthard. My Aboriginal name is Nunay. I am a Pertama Maduthara Luritja Tribe from Urrampinyi (Tempe Downs Station) which is located South West of Alice Springs in Central Australia. I was born in Alice Springs in 1954 and grew up at Tempe Downs until the Government started to remove half caste kids from their families and put them in mission boarding homes. I was taken to Hermannsburg (Ntaria) where I did my schooling. It is here that my love for art started when I saw the Namatjira brothers doing their painting in Ntaria and around tourism camps such as Glen Helen and Palm Valley. I have always wanted to be an artist and I just hope that my work will be recognised. No work is the same each piece is unique in its own right. I have created artwork based on my stories: my work on Mulga Spinifex Country, my country where I grew up and lived – Urrampinyi (Tempe Downs), the oasis in the Desert at Urrampinyi, running Waters at Irrmakara, spiritual keepers of our land, my dreaming – the Thorny Devil, animals in my country, paintings depicting women’s ceremonial site (business) and more.”