About Palya Art

Palya Art works with and for Australian Indigenous artists living in the north and north west of Australia. 

Through the artists' run Art Centres Palya Art is consigned artworks to exhibit comprehensive shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Paris each or alternate years. People both new and familiar to Aboriginal art see the rich array of beautiful paintings, absorb them at leisure, and often choose to come on Palya Art Tours.

Through this successful rythm of bringing artworks to the cities and cities to the artists many lives have been positively influenced.

A selection of artworks are chosen for viewing on this website; please see Online Exhibiiton.

When institutions and collectors asked me to select artwork from the remote communities I was flying to on a regular basis, I knew that keeping good records was important for all concerned hence in 1994 starting Palya Art.

Palya is a Pintupi word meaning ‘good’. Also a greeting; “Palya?” Yuwa (yes), “Palya”.

Palya Art's logo comes from the coolamon (carrying dish) given to me by Narpulla Scobie Naparulla in 1985 on finishing my nursing sister role at Walungurru (Kintore), Pintupi country 600 kms west of Alice Springs.

Palya Art's logo is the Southern Cross with both Narpulla Scobie Naparulla's coolamon ends meeting in the middle.

With the new working relationship developed alongside Didgeri Air Art Tours (founded in 1986, now called Palya Art Tours), people become ‘infected’ - as Warlayirti Artists Director Sally Clifford put it.

Flying over lands, like flying in the paintings, the penny drops with core joy for people. Visitors suddenly 'get' Australia. We know Australia is a big country but being with First Nation artists and Cultural Custodians, seeing paintings grow and emerge, hearing gentle explanations in softly speaking tones of land, kin and connections, horizons become infinite with meaning.

Art Centres - vital places of cultural expression, exchange, archive, commerce, resources, two way learning and artistry, places of heartbreak and joy - ever struggling to survive - are helped be supported by Palya Art sales and Tour visits.

Palya Art is happy to recommend other galleries and encourages people to visit public, private and commerical Indigenous art exhibitions whenever you can. Look out for the Indigenous Art Code though - pictured right - to ensure fair business for all concerned especially including the artists if you are thinking of making a purchase.

Helen Read  Director  Palya Art