The Blak Manta Collective: A New Wave of First Nations Ceramic Art

Apr 18, 2026 to July 12, 2026 | Main Gallery

Image: Tiarnie Edwards with their work Blakbone, 2025. Photo by Andy Francis courtesy of the APYACC

About

The Blak Manta Collective is a dynamic and ambitious group of First Nations artists who are determined to transform the landscape of contemporary Australian art. Drawing inspiration from their cultural roots across the state of South Australia and into the central desert, the collective’s name, "Blak Manta," translates to "Blak Mud" in English. This reference to mud or clay is not merely about material but is deeply symbolic, representing the profound connection the artists share with their ancestral lands and the earth beneath their feet. For these artists, clay is both a physical creative material and a cultural medium, one that embodies stories, law, and tradition passed down through generations.

Blak Manta Artists:
Josina Pumani, Leshaye Swan, Yaritji Tingilia Young, Nyunmiti Burton, Yaritji Heffernan, George Cooley, Frank Young, Iluwanti Ken, Sandra Pumani, Jennifer Burton, Margaret Richards, Daiseybell Kuluru, Sylvia Ken, Tjungkara Ken, Freda Brady, Tanya Brady, Kay Finn, Jeannie Minunga, Sandra Minunga, Terry Lyons, Zaachariaha Fielding.

Exhibition Opening Event
Saturday 23 May | 4pm - 6pm

You are warmly invited to the opening of our Winter Exhibitions Season Launch. All are welcome.  Event details and booking link will be shared directly with our mailing list - sign up to receive your invitation. You can also book here.

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Related Programs and Events

WINTER | Exhibitions Launch