Exhibitions

Anita Mbitjana Ratara

Hayley Panangka Coulthard

Alizha Panangka Coulthard

Donna Purrula McNamara

Senior Hermannsburg Potter Anita Mbitjana Ratara exhibits with her two daughters, Hayley Panangka Coulthard and Alizha Panangka Coulthard, and daughter in law, Donna McNamara. With a beautiful sense of colour and particular talent for depicting landscape passed on from Anita, together they share stories and imagery from across their vast and deeply known Country. 

“We all grew up here in Ntaria (Hermannsburg). When we go see our Country we feel so proud. Nice, good Country. We learn about Country from our Mum, watching her do her painting of landscapes and listening to her stories that she drew on her pots. I feel really happy that I’m following my Mum’s footsteps.” – Alizha Panangka Coulthard 

Anita Mbitjana Ratara is a senior artist at Hermannsburg Potters and is regarded for her confident & colourful painting of Country. Exhibiting alongside Anita will be her daughter Hayley Coulthard who joined the Hermannsburg Potters in 2009, developing her raw natural talent under the mentorship of senior Potters Judith Inkamala, Kumantjayi Ungwanaka and her mother Anita Ratara. Now a mid-career artist and strong leader of the Hermannsburg Potters, and she is known for producing work of both a high technical standard and of artistic merit and has been a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize held at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Alizha is an emerging artist of Hermannsburg Potters joining the group in 2020. She is also the daughter of Senior artist and community elder Anita Ratara. Their family has a strong legacy in fine art and Alizha is a natural potter with very fine painting skills and careful attention to detail. Alizha lives at her family outstation of 8 Mile west of Hermannsburg Community and draws her inspiration from the landscape, family and local flora and fauna.

Donna McNamara was born between Ntaria (Hermannsburg) and Mparntwe (Alice Springs). She grew up at her outstation and went to school at Kulpitarra. Donna joined Hermannsburg Potters in in April 2023 where she has been learning to sculpt and paint clay from her mother in- law, senior artist Anita Ratara, and sisters-in-law Hayley and Alisha Coulthard. Despite only joining Hermannsburg Potters this year Donna has showed immediate talent as a lively potter and exciting new emerging artist.