Born: c1928
Community: Alhalkere, Utopia
Language: Eastern Anmatyerre

Kudditji (Koob-i-jee) Kngwarreye is an Anmatyerre elder born circa 1928 at (Atneltyeye) Boundary Bore Outstation in the Utopia Region of Central Australia, north-east of Alice Springs. After a traditional bush upbringing in the Utopia region Kudditji started a long career as a stockman and mine worker. As a custodian of many important dreamings’, including the Emu Dreaming and his travels through his country Ahalkere, Kudditji in 1986 was moved to start recording his heritage and inspirations on canvas.

He began his career using the pointillist style incorporating traditional iconography and fine dot work.  In the mid 1990’s Kudditji developed a far looser, more abstract style, reminiscent of his late sister’s Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

Kudditji’s ‘My Country’ Series comes together using a heavily loaded brush and a widely varied palette, Kudditji’s forms sweep broadly across the canvas. With blocks of stippled colour laid alongside each other, sometimes using only two colours, while in other paintings a layer of contrasting colours produces a reflection of the landscape which surrounds him.