Selma Coulthard
Watarrka (Kings Canyon area)
My painting is about the Country between Urrampinya/Tempe Downs and Watarrka (Kings Canyon area). I grew up on Tempe Downs, a cattle station founded in 1890, where my father was the head stockman. The station was a three-day camel ride from Ntaria/Hermannsburg, where I later went to school and learned to paint.
I paint the history of my Country; not only the spiritual places, but also the stories of the difficult times that came with the arrival of white men. It's important that our Country's history be told.
The landscapes I paint show the special, sacred areas belonging to both my mother's and father's families. Many of these scenes are of women's healing places, and I believe the healing power of these places continues through my painting.
Selma Coulthard, 2026
PhilJames
Born Toulouse (mk III)
