Dulcie Sharpe was born at Hamilton Downs in 1957 and spent many years growing up there. Her mother was from Papunya and she is a Luritja speaker. Sharpe went to school at Kwale Kwale and says her happiest memories are playing every day after school in the bush and swimming when there was water. It was Sharpe's grandmother, Old Laddie, who taught her everything about culture: how to find honey ants, bush tucker, dancing and language.

Sharpe has been coming to the Yarrenyty Arltere Learning Centre since 2000 when she helped set it up as a place for her community to get well again from the chronic social issues it was facing. Sharpe wanted to create a safe place for the kids and adults to find new pathways into the future by holding on strongly to culture and learning together.

Sharpe loves sewing, after work on the weekend and even in hospital. She has now started doing ink on paper, following her sister Trudy Inkamala in this medium. Her images on paper speak of her sewn soft sculptures and are a beautiful transition from one skill to another. She is a respected elder of the community and a positive role model for other artists.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
2022 National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ACT
2022 Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs NT
2018 Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane Qld
2016 Art Gallery of South Australia
2013 National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ACT
2011 Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs NT
2010 Flinders University City Gallery Art Museum, Adelaide SA
2009 Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs NT

AWARDS
2025 Finalist, Telstra NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin NT
2023 Finalist, Telstra NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin NT
2021 Finalist, National Indigenous Fashion Awards, Darwin NT, Special Recognition for Yarrenyty Arltere Artists
2014 Finalist, Telstra NATSIAA, MAGNT, Darwin NT
2013 Highly Commended Finalist, WA Indigenous Art Award, Perth WA
2011 Final selection, Togart Contemporary Art Award, Darwin NT
2010 Final selection, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Sydney NSW

Dulcie Sharpe

Bird

About the artist

Artwork description

Dulcie Sharpe

Bird

About the artist

Artwork description