Indji Tharwal: Early Aboriginal Artist of Wadeye (Port Keats)
Indji Tharwal (c.1910–1980s) was a significant but little-documented Aboriginal artist from Wadeye (formerly Port Keats), one of a pioneering group of artists whose bark paintings emerged from this remote Northern Territory community during the mid-20th century. Working primarily between the late 1950s and 1980s, Tharwal was among a core group—alongside artists such as Bobyin Nongah, Charlie Rock Ngumbe, and Nym Bunduk—whose paintings now form an important but under-recognised chapter in the history of Aboriginal art.
Despite the scarcity of published material, bark paintings by Indji Tharwal are now increasingly sought after by collectors, curators, and researchers seeking to document the early visual traditions of the Wadeye region. If you are in possession of an Indji Tharwal bark painting, please get in touch. I would be delighted to view an image, provide a complimentary valuation, and may offer to acquire the work for a private or institutional collection.
The Art of Indji Tharwal: Bark Paintings from Wadeye
Indji Tharwal’s distinctive visual language reflects ceremonial iconography that links his practice to longstanding cultural traditions of the region. He began painting in the early 1960s, initially producing works on oval wooden boards featuring incised or painted churinga-like designs—ancestral symbols used in ceremonial contexts. These designs often echo the sacred visual vocabulary associated with clan identity and Dreaming narratives.
As his practice evolved, Tharwal transitioned to larger, squarer pieces of bark. These later works are marked by a confident use of ochre, subtle cross-hatching, and depictions of ceremonial scenes rendered in flattened perspective. One known bark painting attributed to Indji Tharwal represents the Rainbow Serpent (Kunmanggur), a key ancestral figure. The style and form of this painting closely resemble works by Bobyin Nongah, suggesting that both artists may have belonged to the same clan or ritual network.
Rare and Collectible: Indji Tharwal Bark Paintings
Very few original artworks by Indji Tharwal are known to exist today, making them rare and valuable pieces within the field of early Aboriginal bark painting. His works provide a crucial link to the spiritual and ceremonial heritage of the Wadeye region and offer insight into a style of painting that developed largely independently of the Western Desert and Papunya movements of the 1970s.
Unlike other regions where Aboriginal art movements were extensively documented, the early artistic output from Port Keats received minimal institutional attention during the time of its creation. As such, bark paintings by Indji Tharwal and his contemporaries although not very valuable are historically significant and highly collectible, particularly when accompanied by provenance from missions or early collectors.
Seeking More Information: Help Build the Archive
Information on Indji Tharwal, Port Keats art, and the broader Wadeye Aboriginal painting movement remains limited. Much of the early artistic legacy of this region—including that of artists such as Charlie Rock Ngumbe, Charlie Mardigan, and Nym Bunduk—has yet to be fully documented. If you have any photographs, artworks, or stories relating to these early painters, I warmly invite you to reach out. Your contribution can help build a more complete understanding of Indji Tharwal’s life and art, and shed light on a generation of remarkable artists whose voices deserve to be heard.
Buy, Sell or Value Indji Tharwal Artworks
If you are looking to sell an Indji Tharwal painting, or want to know the value of a Port Keats bark painting, I can assist with expert appraisal and acquisition. I specialise in rare and early Aboriginal art, particularly bark paintings from Arnhem Land, Tiwi Islands, and the Daly River region.
Please send through clear photographs of the work (including the reverse), along with any information about where and when it was acquired. I will respond promptly with an estimated market value and, if suitable, a purchase offer.
Further reading
Other Port Keats Art and Artists
All images in this article are for educational purposes only.
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which was not specified by the copyright owner.