MARTU ARTISTS SHOWCASE WORKSHOP TO THE US

Martu Artists welcomed a luxury brand US fragrance company Pura, to join them on their ancestral land whilst holding an art workshop on Country. 

  • 12 Martu artists held a 2 day art workshop on ancestral land in the Gibson Desert.

  • The artists gained direct economic benefit from the sale of their art  -  some of which became the design for a new sandalwood fragrance collection for US-based luxury fragrance company - Pura.   

  • Pura committed a percentage of profits from the sales of the new fragrance collection ensuring royalties to be returned back to the community via KFDF.

  • Pura’s key team members were invited to join them to deepen their understanding of Martu culture and build mutually beneficial international partnerships.

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IN PICTURES

THE STORY

Martu Artists welcomed a luxury brand US fragrance company Pura, to join them on their ancestral land whilst holding an art workshop on Country. This unique opportunity for a US audience to see and experience with their own eyes the deep connection between Martu artists and their land – an activity that fosters cultural continuity, creative excellence, and offers huge economic opportunities.  

Rooted in traditions that have sustained Martu people for tens of thousands of years, art on country initiatives support artists as they share their stories through painting, ensuring that cultural knowledge and heritage remain strong for future generations.

At the heart of the art on country programs is the practice of painting, an essential storytelling tradition that has guided Martu survival for millennia.  Before modern mapping tools, Martu nomads used visual stories — paintings and carvings — to navigate the vast Western Desert of Australia. These artworks signified sacred sites, water sources, and migration paths, acting as a cultural and spiritual compass. Today, Martu artists continue this tradition by using shapes, patterns, and colours to depict significant landscape features and the enduring relationship between their people and Country.

One the workshop showcased here, Martu community members came together to paint on Country. Under the shade of eucalyptus trees, artists translated their surroundings onto canvas, depicting the claypans, ancient lakes, fire management practices, and important gathering places that have sustained Martu families for generations.

Beyond cultural expression, art workshops on country like these provide crucial economic opportunities for Martu women and artists. Through workshops and collaborations, artists gain access to national and international markets, creating a sustainable livelihood that strengthens their autonomy and community well-being. By supporting activities like these to continue we contribute to the preservation of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property and work with artists to continue sharing their stories with the world.