Billy Benn Perrurle
Artist's Statement
Billy Benn Perrurle’s paintings are deeply grounded in his lifelong connection to Country and celebrate the land of his forebears in the Harts Range of Central Australia, near his birthplace in the Eastern Arrernte region. His works are painted from memory and feeling, shaped by decades spent working, travelling and living across this landscape, which remained central to his identity throughout his life.
As a young man, Billy Benn worked extensively in mining and pastoral industries across Central Australia, including in the mica mines of the Harts Range and later as a stockman droving sheep and cattle. Like many Aboriginal men of his generation, his early life was marked by hardship and instability, including periods of incarceration. Following his release, painting became a transformative force, providing purpose and a means to reconnect with Country and culture.
Although his cultural introduction to art began early through family, particularly his sisters Ally and Gladdy Kemerre and his father, who made traditional artefacts, Billy Benn’s professional painting practice began in earnest in the 1980s when he joined the Bindi Art Centre in Alice Springs. There, his determination and commitment helped lead to the establishment of the Mwerre Anthurre cooperative, supporting artists working with disability. He initially painted on discarded boards before moving to canvas, working with whatever materials were available.
Billy Benn’s paintings are characterised by rolling ranges, expansive horizons and a sophisticated sensitivity to light and space. Rendered in deep reds and luminous tones, his landscapes evoke the vastness and spiritual presence of Central Australia. His flowing brushwork marked a clear departure from dot painting traditions, instead drawing on a painterly language that blends Aboriginal knowledge with elements of Western landscape traditions. Critics have noted affinities with Albert Namatjira’s approach, a comparison Billy Benn himself acknowledged with admiration.
His work was first publicly exhibited in 2000, when all of his paintings sold, prompting wider recognition. Former National Gallery of Victoria deputy director Frances Lindsay described his practice as extending the trajectory of Namatjira’s legacy. Billy Benn painted with urgency and generosity, seeking to record every hill and story of his Country so that nothing would be forgotten.
Billy Benn Perrurle’s work is now held in major public institutions and numerous private collections. Rising to national prominence through exhibitions across Australia, his paintings stand as powerful, memory-driven expressions of Country, resilience and lived experience.
As a young man, Billy Benn worked extensively in mining and pastoral industries across Central Australia, including in the mica mines of the Harts Range and later as a stockman droving sheep and cattle. Like many Aboriginal men of his generation, his early life was marked by hardship and instability, including periods of incarceration. Following his release, painting became a transformative force, providing purpose and a means to reconnect with Country and culture.
Although his cultural introduction to art began early through family, particularly his sisters Ally and Gladdy Kemerre and his father, who made traditional artefacts, Billy Benn’s professional painting practice began in earnest in the 1980s when he joined the Bindi Art Centre in Alice Springs. There, his determination and commitment helped lead to the establishment of the Mwerre Anthurre cooperative, supporting artists working with disability. He initially painted on discarded boards before moving to canvas, working with whatever materials were available.
Billy Benn’s paintings are characterised by rolling ranges, expansive horizons and a sophisticated sensitivity to light and space. Rendered in deep reds and luminous tones, his landscapes evoke the vastness and spiritual presence of Central Australia. His flowing brushwork marked a clear departure from dot painting traditions, instead drawing on a painterly language that blends Aboriginal knowledge with elements of Western landscape traditions. Critics have noted affinities with Albert Namatjira’s approach, a comparison Billy Benn himself acknowledged with admiration.
His work was first publicly exhibited in 2000, when all of his paintings sold, prompting wider recognition. Former National Gallery of Victoria deputy director Frances Lindsay described his practice as extending the trajectory of Namatjira’s legacy. Billy Benn painted with urgency and generosity, seeking to record every hill and story of his Country so that nothing would be forgotten.
Billy Benn Perrurle’s work is now held in major public institutions and numerous private collections. Rising to national prominence through exhibitions across Australia, his paintings stand as powerful, memory-driven expressions of Country, resilience and lived experience.
Awards
2006 - Winner of the 2006 Alice Prize, Alice Springs.
Exhibitions
2017 - Artetyerre, Cooee Art , Sydney.
2014 - Billy Benn Returning Home, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney.
2010 - To Paint Every Hill, NG Art Gallery, Sydney.
2007 - Magic, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2003 - Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Karen Brown Gallery, Darwin.
2002 - Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Grant Pirrie Gallery, Sydney.
2014 - Billy Benn Returning Home, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney.
2010 - To Paint Every Hill, NG Art Gallery, Sydney.
2007 - Magic, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2003 - Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Karen Brown Gallery, Darwin.
2002 - Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Grant Pirrie Gallery, Sydney.
Group Exhibitions
2014 - The hills behond Hermannsburg, from the Gallery's Indigenous Collection, featuring the work of Arnulf Ebatarinja, Conley Ebatarinja, Benjamin Landara, Tristam Malbunka, Albert Namatjira, Keith Namatjira, Lenie Namatjira, Maurice Namatjira, Oscar Namatjira, Claude Pannka, Gloria Pannka, Nelson Pannka, Ivy Pareroultja, Otto Pareroultja, Billy Benn Perrurle, Norman Ratara, Vanessa Splinter, Roland Uburtja, Alison Walbungara, Richard Moketarinja at the AGNSW, Sydney.
2013 - Beautiful Art, featuring Adrian Robertson, Billy Benn, Billy Kenda, Conway Ginger, Jane Mervin, Kukula Mcdonald, Lance James, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
2013 - New Works, featuring Billy Benn, Dan Raberaba, Jane Mervin, Kukula Mcdonald at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2013 - Good, strong, powerful, featuring Adrian Robertson, Billy, Benn, Billy Kenda, Kukula Mcdonald, Lance James at Tandanya National Aboriginal Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2013 - Bindi Artists 2013, featuring Billy Benn Kemerre, Kukula McDonald, Jane Mervin, Dan Raberaba at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2011 - Good Strong Powerful featuring the work of Lorna Kantilla, Alfonso Puantjimi and Estelle Munkanome, Billy Benn Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Billy Kenda, Lance James and Adrian Robertson, Dion Beasley and Peggy Jones Napangardi at Arts Project Australia, 24 High St, Northcote Gallery, Melbourne.
2011 - Bindi 2011, featuring the work of Billy Benn Perrurle, Billy Kenda, Adrian Robinson, Kukulu McDonald and Lance James at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2010 - A View on Country, featuring Bill Benn Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson, Lance James and Billy Kenda at Mossenson Gallery, Perth, WA.
2010 - Looking Back at Country featuring the artists Makinti Napanangka, Billy Benn Perrurle and Martin Tjampitjinpa at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2010 - Remembering Country includes the artists Adrian Robertson, Kukula McDonald, Seth Namatjira, Billy Kenda, Lance James, and Billy Benn Perrurle, at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2010 - Emerging Elders, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
2009 - Bindi 2009, featuring the following artists: Billy Kenda, Billy Benn and Lance James, at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Reunited: Billy Benn Perrurle & Gladdy Kemarre, Mossenson Galleries, Melbourne.
2008 - Visions of Utopia, featuring the following artists: Angelina Ngal, Billy Benn Perrurle, Cowboy Loy Pwerl, Elizabeth Kunoth Kngwarrey, Elizabeth Mpetyan, Gladdy Kemarr, Jean Kngwarrey, Kathleen Ngal, Maisy Petyarr, Nancy Petyarre Kunoth, Pansy Petyarr McLeod, Poly Ngal, Ruby Morton Kngwarrey, Trudy Raggett at Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney.
2008 - Landscape Masters, featuring Billy Ben Perrurle, Adrian Robertson Jangala and Billy Kenda, at Alcaston Gallery, Sydney.
2008 - Bindi Artists 2008, featuring Billy Ben Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson Jangala and Billy Kenda, at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2008 - Land, Sea and the Universe, Alcaston Gallery @ the 2008 Melbourne Art Fair, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.
2007 - 24th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2006 - Treasures from the Desert, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; The second Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Shalom College, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Billy Kenda, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson and Billy Benn Perrurle, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2005 - 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin; From little things, big things grow, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
2004 - 2004 Australian Culture Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square, Melbourne; Apmere - Country Land and Place, Recent works by artists from Mwerre Anthurre Alice Springs, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi; 21st Telstra National Aborigainal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2003 - The Bindi Perspective, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs; 20th Telstra Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
2001 - Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment, Alice Springs.
2000 - Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment, Alice Springs.
2013 - Beautiful Art, featuring Adrian Robertson, Billy Benn, Billy Kenda, Conway Ginger, Jane Mervin, Kukula Mcdonald, Lance James, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.
2013 - New Works, featuring Billy Benn, Dan Raberaba, Jane Mervin, Kukula Mcdonald at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2013 - Good, strong, powerful, featuring Adrian Robertson, Billy, Benn, Billy Kenda, Kukula Mcdonald, Lance James at Tandanya National Aboriginal Institute, Adelaide, SA.
2013 - Bindi Artists 2013, featuring Billy Benn Kemerre, Kukula McDonald, Jane Mervin, Dan Raberaba at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2011 - Good Strong Powerful featuring the work of Lorna Kantilla, Alfonso Puantjimi and Estelle Munkanome, Billy Benn Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Billy Kenda, Lance James and Adrian Robertson, Dion Beasley and Peggy Jones Napangardi at Arts Project Australia, 24 High St, Northcote Gallery, Melbourne.
2011 - Bindi 2011, featuring the work of Billy Benn Perrurle, Billy Kenda, Adrian Robinson, Kukulu McDonald and Lance James at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2010 - A View on Country, featuring Bill Benn Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson, Lance James and Billy Kenda at Mossenson Gallery, Perth, WA.
2010 - Looking Back at Country featuring the artists Makinti Napanangka, Billy Benn Perrurle and Martin Tjampitjinpa at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2010 - Remembering Country includes the artists Adrian Robertson, Kukula McDonald, Seth Namatjira, Billy Kenda, Lance James, and Billy Benn Perrurle, at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
2010 - Emerging Elders, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
2009 - Bindi 2009, featuring the following artists: Billy Kenda, Billy Benn and Lance James, at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Reunited: Billy Benn Perrurle & Gladdy Kemarre, Mossenson Galleries, Melbourne.
2008 - Visions of Utopia, featuring the following artists: Angelina Ngal, Billy Benn Perrurle, Cowboy Loy Pwerl, Elizabeth Kunoth Kngwarrey, Elizabeth Mpetyan, Gladdy Kemarr, Jean Kngwarrey, Kathleen Ngal, Maisy Petyarr, Nancy Petyarre Kunoth, Pansy Petyarr McLeod, Poly Ngal, Ruby Morton Kngwarrey, Trudy Raggett at Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney.
2008 - Landscape Masters, featuring Billy Ben Perrurle, Adrian Robertson Jangala and Billy Kenda, at Alcaston Gallery, Sydney.
2008 - Bindi Artists 2008, featuring Billy Ben Perrurle, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson Jangala and Billy Kenda, at Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2008 - Land, Sea and the Universe, Alcaston Gallery @ the 2008 Melbourne Art Fair, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.
2007 - 24th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2006 - Treasures from the Desert, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne; The second Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Shalom College, University of New South Wales, Sydney; Billy Kenda, Kukula McDonald, Adrian Robertson and Billy Benn Perrurle, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
2005 - 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin; From little things, big things grow, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
2004 - 2004 Australian Culture Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square, Melbourne; Apmere - Country Land and Place, Recent works by artists from Mwerre Anthurre Alice Springs, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi; 21st Telstra National Aborigainal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
2003 - The Bindi Perspective, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs; 20th Telstra Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
2001 - Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment, Alice Springs.
2000 - Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment, Alice Springs.
Collections
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands.
Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
