I first saw a painting hanging in a gallery in Alice Springs by Raymond Walters Japanangka back around 2008. It was a striking large Emu Dreaming work, that captured my imagination. It was then fortuitous that we met Raymond himself through another aboriginal artist and he came to visit us at our home (this was around my birthday) with some of his paintings. Wow, we loved them and ended buying 4 of them, one which I absolutely love was a birthday present from my partner to me.

So we are pleased to present visitors to our website some background information about this amazing artist and his artworks. Paintings by this artist can be found in some of the galleries in Alice Springs and around Australia, just do a search for his name.

Born in Alice Springs in 1975, Raymond Walters Japanangka comes from a strong artistic background of well known artist, whose names include his grandfather Jack Cook Ngale, late grandmothers Emily Kngwarreye and Minnie Pwerle, Aunties Margaret Scobie, Gloria Petyerre, Barbara Weir, Kathleen Petyerre, Ada Bird Petyerre and his Uncle Lindsay Bird.

Raymond’s grandfathers country is Ngarleyekwerlang near Yuelumu (Mt Allan) and his grandmothers country is Alhalkerre-Atnankerre (Boundry Bore) of Utopia. Ngarleyekwerlang is located 300 km north west of Alice Springs, whilst Boundary Bore is located 300 km north east of Alice Springs.

Both his grandparents are from the Anmatyerre language group. He also has extended family members from the Arrwnte, Western Aranda, Alwarre, Warlpiri and Kaytetye language groups on his Grandmothers side.

Raymond’s art reflects this prestigious lineage and provides an opportunity to share his life experiences and cultural knowledge which has been passed down from his grandparents and extended family members. His modern contemporary abstract style is unique and exciting, using a wide range of colours and textures, creating art that is very popular with galleries and the general public.

Raymond’s artwork depict the Dreaming stories of water from his Grandfather’s country ‘Ngarleyekwerlang’ and damper seed from his Grandmother’s country.

His Dreaming include:

  • Atnangkerre Dreaming
  • Bush Damper Seed Dreaming
  • Bush Potato Dreaming
  • Emu Dreaming
  • Emu Dreaming Country
  • Lightning Dreaming
  • Mountain Devil Lizard (Thorny Devil) – his Grandmothers dreaming
  • Water Dreaming – his Grandfathers dreaming

Other works include:

  • Flying Ants

Examples of his works include:

  • Bush Damper Seed Dreaming
  • Emu Dreaming
  • Mountain Devil Lizard
  • Ngarleyekwerlang (Emu Dreaming Country)
  • Water Dreaming


  • SOLO EXHIBITION
  • 2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, City Library, Melbourne
  • 2018 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Art Mark Gallery, Melbourne
  • 2017 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Penangk Gallery, Geelong
  • 2015 Raymond Walters Japanangka, The Gordan Tafe, Geelong
  • 2015 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2014 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Geelong, VIC
  • 2013 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2012 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Gasworks, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Incinerator, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2011 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Allen Arthur Law Firm, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2010 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Katrina Manton Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2009 Raymond Walters Japanangka, Kath Dickson Art Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
  • 2009 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2008 Stomping Grounds, Katrina Manton Gallery, Albert Park, VIC
  • 2008 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2007 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT
  • 2006 Artist in Residence, Mulgara Gallery, Yulara, NT

  • GROUP EXHIBITION
  • 2021 Mid-Winter Mofo, Art Mob, Hobart, TAS
  • 2021 Parrtjima Australia 2021- Festival of Light, Alice Springs, NT
  • 2020 Colours of Spring, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2019 Defining Tradition | the colourists, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW
  • 2019 Small is Beautiful, Japingka Gallery, Perth, WA
  • 2019 Defining Tradition: the first wave & its disciples, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney, NSW

Raymond Walters Japanangka > Emu Dreaming | Ankerre Jukurrpa (Emu Feathers) | Water Dreaming


Aboriginal ArtistsDorothy Napangardi Kukula McDonald Raymond Walters Japanangka Selma Coulthard Trephina Sultan Thanguwa