Sarrita King Biography

‘There is so much beauty in this world and it’s hard to capture it all, but I can try.’ (Sarrita King)

At 33 years old Sarrita King lives in Darwin, N.T where she spent most of her youth. The Northern Territory continues to be the source of much of her creative inspiration along with the stories her father, the late, William King Jungala, shared with her.

She lives with her partner, Chad and her sons Steele and Grange and splits her time between family and working in the studio. Sarrita’s new family has only strengthened her desire to share her culture and stories through her art.

The beginning…

In Adelaide South Australia, Sarrita King was born on March 5 1988. She is younger sister to artist Tarisse King and daughter of renowned influential indigenous artist, the late William King Jungala. Her combinations of styles, philosophies and pictorial story-telling have become characteristic of her work, resulting in acclaim and world-recognition as an iconic artist in her own right. 

‘My works try to capture philosophies and elements of life that everyone can relate to and feel a connection to. This brings the viewer into the artwork and helps… them to understand Aboriginal culture.’ (Sarrita King)

Spending her formative years in the harsh and exacting Northern Territory, she was close to the spirit of her people, the Gurindji tribe and she daily felt the degradation, reparation, hope and beauty of a land that was in constant flux, turmoil and renewal. 

At the age of 16 she began to paint. The sand hills, lightning, space, direction, mass, torrential rain, fire, rivers of sand – everywhere the inspiration was rife and plentiful. Representing these visually riveting and dramatic Australian icons on canvas was the challenge that Sarrita accepted and dominated.

William King Jungala – the influence and legacy

Being born as the second daughter to the great indigenous artist William King meant that Sarrita and older sister Tarisse were always in the presence of a seemingly omniscient artistic eye that brought even the most mundane of elements into a vibrant and visceral reality that could not be ignored.

When asked about William, Sarrita comments: ‘His openness, life philosophy and storytelling compelled both of us to follow in his footsteps and carry on his legacy through the art.’

William and his daughters often shared great moments of philosophising, extrapolating on ideas and sharing artistic intentions.

‘I think every one of my works has an influence from either an artwork of his (William King) or a story he shared with us.’

Developing a unique style

Sarrita is a self-confessed artist of today – she unashamedly combines methods and techniques from past and present times and is developing a future style for all generations to enjoy. She admits that ‘dotting’ is not necessarily a long tradition of indigenous artists and she uses it in amongst a variety of other methods, which combined; bring a driving and passionate energy to her contemporary work.

Sarrita, eloquent and descriptive in word as well as image, undertook a Bachelor of Journalism in Adelaide, but has returned to her deeper love of art and is currently in Darwin from where she often journeys deep into the lands that support and cherish not only her people but her talent and aspirations.   

Her style is uniquely her own and is applauded not only in Australia but on the world-stage across Europe, Canada and elsewhere.

Exhibiting in Paris

She first began exhibiting her work in Adelaide in 2006. From here it was like an explosion of interest and popularity. Australia, and then the world, couldn’t get enough of her inimitable work.

In 2009 she was asked to exhibit in Paris. It was like a dream come true.

‘To be working and displaying down the hall from greats such as Dali and Picasso was priceless. Also to be so far from home and still see our culture upheld and represented and respected in the Quai Branly museum just made me so happy for Aboriginal art and culture.’

This was the highlight of her career to date and is just one of many exhibitions that has drawn to her, the fame and accolades she so richly deserves.

A modern day icon

Combining the rich traditional culture and methods of indigenous artists with contemporary attitudes and new techniques has seen Sarrita develop a new style of indigenous art. She has striven to remain faithful to the old whilst embracing the new, demonstrating that indigenous art is not just about what has been, but about highlighting the here, the now and the future.

‘The new generation has a duty to share and continue the path set before us by the earlier generations. The motivation to create and share my artwork comes from the desire to involve the world with the rich Australian indigenous heritage.’

‘The Lightning Series’

Darwin and the Northern Territory of Australia are renowned for their dramatic bi-annual lightning and storm shows. Researchers and experts travel from all over the world to see the spectacular skyward schisms and ruptures. For indigenous Australian artists it’s a time to revel in the portents of change, renewal, rebirth and hope.

The cracking, searing lightning that cuts the sky and reflects the land is passionately realised in Sarrita’s Lightning Series where she combines the elements into inseparable reflective entities. The colours, lines, shapes, depths and light all dance together in a transformational ensemble that leaves the viewer aghast with anticipation for more.

The ‘Our Land Series’

Sarrita has recently produced the Our Land Series which is very much a contemporary and innovative interpretation of the land in which we live.

‘It is a very minimalist series with lines intersecting and a thick coloured circle representing home. The intersecting lines show the ever-changing land as it is damaged and continues to repair. Just like our lives, we adapt to the world around us and our experiences. I have tried to reflect the beauty of this process.’

My Country’s Stories

Collaboratively reflecting the philosophies of their father, sisters Sarrita and Tarisse worked on this series of paintings to peel back the layers of a story that define a region. It’s about structure and language of earth and the seeing-eye. An excellent series creation that showcases the union of the sisters’ talents, visions and future journeys.

Major Exhibitions

Date	Title	Gallery
2020, Feb 2018, Mar 2017, Sep 2017, June 2017, May 2017., Mar 2016, Oct 2016, Apr 2015, Sep 2014, Sep 2014, Aug 2013, July 2013, Feb	Director Choice Earth Language Ancestors, Elements, Heritage Gurrondji Janjinyina King Collection Battersea Art Fair Sarrita King, Artist in Residence Tarisse & Sarrita King Sarrita King, Artist in Residence Sarrita King & Tarisse King Sarrita King, Artist in Residence Sarrita King, Artist in Residence The King Sisters	Kate Owen Gallery, NSW Aboriginal Art Gallery, Rotterdam Japingka Gallery, W.A Kate Owen Gallery, NSW Cromwell, Melbourne Aboriginal Art Galleries, London Kate Owen Gallery, NSW Japingka Gallery, W.A Kate Owen Gallery, NSW Japingka Gallery, W.A Kate Owen Gallery, NSW Ngarru Gallery, Port Douglas Japingka Gallery, W.A
2012,Nov	Country of Kings	Red Desert Dreamings, Melbourne
2012, Nov	Art Expo	Singapore
2012, Oct	Collaboration	Gallery 577, Melbourne
2012, Aug	Aboriginal Art	Butler Goode Gallery, Sydney
2012, March	Contemporary Art	Art Curial, Paris
2011, Nov	Language of the Earth	Japingka, Freemantle, WA
2011, Feb	Connections , First Solo Exhibition	Gallery 577, Melbourne
2010, Nov	Contemporary Auction	Art Curial, France
2010	Rising Stars, Tarisse & Sarrita King	Aboriginal Art Galleries, Sydney
2010, Aug	The King Sisters	Mason Art Gallery
2010	First Artist in Residence	Newington College, Sydney
2010	In Our Father’s Eyes	Aboriginal Dreamtime Gallery, LA
2010, Jul	Contemporary Auction	Art Curial, France
2010, April	Fire & Lightning	Central Art, Alice Springs
2010, Feb	The King Sisters	Red Dessert Dreaming Gallery Melbourne
2009, Nov	Art Curial auction and exhibition	Art Curial, France
2009, Sep	William, Tarisse & Sarrita King	Aboriginal Art Galleries, Sydney
2009, Nov	Kaminabend mit Tarisse & Sarrita	Brit‘s Art, Übach-Palenberg, Germany
2009	The King Sisters	Blue Gum Gallery, QVB, Sydney
2009	The 3 Kings	Bennelong Gallery, Sydney
2009, May	The Three Kings	Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
2008, Aug	The Kings	Firstlook Gallery, Melbourne
2008, April	The 3 Kings	Ulladulla Aboriginal Gallery, Sydney
2006, Aug	Kings Exhibition	La Jolla, California, USA

 

 

Group Exhibitions

Date	Title	Gallery
2020 2019 2019 2016 2015 2014 2011	Director’s Choice International Womens Day Top 10 Hong Kong Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary Holmes Court Collection,Major Exhibitions Big and Bold	Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney Hong Kong Hong Kong Perth, W.A Gallery 577, Melbourne
2010	Divas on the Cusp, Art on Hastings	Noosa Heads, Queensland
2010	Canterbury Art Exhibition	Canterbury, Victoria
2008	Aboriginal Art Auction	Customs House, Sydney
2008	Canterbury Art Exhibition	Canterbury, Victoria
2008	The EWB exhibition	14 exhibitions across Australia
2006	Katherine Art Exhibition	Katherine, N.T.
2006	Jungarra Exhibition	Cairns, Qld
2006	City Mob	Adelaide, S.A.