Shaping The Landscape: Spirit Figures From Northern Australia | New York
The Martin Rae Collection
06 February 2025 – 21 March 2025
About Exhibition
Shaping The Landscape: Spirit Figures From Northern Australia comprises thirty-one figurative sculptures from one of the most significant and comprehensive private collections of Aboriginal sculpture held outside of Australia.
Representing over 50 years of discerning acquisition, this collection brings together the sculptural traditions of three major art producing regions in Northern Australia; the Tiwi Islands, Western Arnhem Land and North-east Arnhem Land.
The production of Spirit figures developed through contact with outside influences including Trepang fisherman visiting the coast of North-east Arnhem Land, missionaries and interested collectors.
These figurative sculptures have since been an area of intense focus for collecting institutions in Australia and internationally. We look forward to presenting this museum quality collection at our 73rd Street gallery in early 2025.
Works
Declan Apuatimi, Purukuparli, circa 1979
Declan Apuatimi,
Purukuparli circa 1979
earth pigments on hardwood with resin, softwood and feathers
20 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Tiwi Pima Art, Northern Territory Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 20 July 2009, lot 37 The Martin Rae Collection,New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara, Purrukuparli, circa 1955
Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara,
Purrukuparli circa 1955
earth pigments on Ironwood
23.5 x 4.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst or Melville Islands, Northern Territory , Western Australia, 1970s , Queensland, acquired from the above Important Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 6 October 2010, lot 4 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
On Hold
Mick Aruni Illortamini, Untitled, early to mid 1960s
Mick Aruni Illortamini,
Untitled early to mid 1960s
earth pigments on Ironwood
33.5 x 4.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Board, Sydney Rothmans of Pall Mall Canada Collection McIntosh Gallery, Western University, Ontario, gifted from the above, 1978 De-accessioned 2003 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
On Hold
Mick Aruni Illortamini, Purrukuparli and Bima, circa 1976
Mick Aruni Illortamini,
Purrukuparli and Bima circa 1976
earth pigments on Ironwood
38 x 6 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory Blaxland Gallery, Myer Grace Bros, Sydney , acquired from the above in 1978 Aboriginal Fine Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 9 November 2005, lot 2 Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s Melbourne, 26 & 27 July 2010, lot 199 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 14,000
AVAILABLE
Paddy Henry Teeampi Ripijingimpi, Tokwampini and Purrukuparli, circa 1975
Paddy Henry Teeampi Ripijingimpi,
Tokwampini and Purrukuparli circa 1975
earth pigments on Ironwood
59.5 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, executed at Milikapiti, Melville Island , New South Wales Sotheby's, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 25 July 2005, lot 110 , United States of America, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Kitty Kantilla, Untitled, circa 1980
Kitty Kantilla,
Untitled circa 1980
earth pigments on Ironwood
22.5 x 14.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory , New South Wales Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 7 June 2011, lot 69 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
On Hold
Kitty Kantilla, Bima and Wai-ai, 1980
Kitty Kantilla,
Bima and Wai-ai 1980
earth pigments on Ironwood
51 x 6 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Tiwi Pima Art or Tiwi Design, Northern Territory , New South Wales Aboriginal Fine Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 23 May 2007, lot 29 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Kitty Kantilla, Untitled, circa 1980
Kitty Kantilla,
Untitled circa 1980
earth pigments on Ironwood
46 x 5.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Tiwi Pima Art, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory , New South Wales Aboriginal Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 30 May 2006, lot 268 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Micky Geranium Warlpinni, Untitled, circa 1970
Micky Geranium Warlpinni,
Untitled circa 1970
earth pigments on Ironwood
33.75 x 3 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Melville or Bathurst Islands, Northern Territory , Darwin Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Sydney, 29 July 2003, lot 427 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Ben Tipungwuti, Untitled, circa 1960
Ben Tipungwuti,
Untitled circa 1960
earth pigments, resin and hair on Ironwood
23 x 4.25 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Nguiu, Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Bathurst Island Mission, Northern Territory Stephen Kellner Gallery, Sydney , Sydney Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 24 July 2007, lot 75 The Luczo Family Collection, United States of America Aboriginal Art from the Luczo Family Collection USA, Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 19 Oct 2016, lot 19 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Mani Luki Wommatakimmi, Bima, circa 1972
Mani Luki Wommatakimmi,
Bima circa 1972
earth pigments on Ironwood
25.75 x 7 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory , Perth Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 26 June 2000, lot 57 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 14,000
AVAILABLE
Mani Luki Wommatakimmi, Untitled, cira 1970
Mani Luki Wommatakimmi,
Untitled cira 1970
earth pigments on Ironwood
24 x 8.75 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milikapiti, Melville Island, Northern Territory Melville Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 31 October 2006, lot 80 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
On Hold
Don Hocking Pudjamali, Untitled, circa 1960
Don Hocking Pudjamali,
Untitled circa 1960
human hair, shells, bush gum, earth pigments on Ironwood
15.5 x 4.75 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Bathurst Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory Lance Bennett, Northern Territory, acquired from the above Thomas Vroom, The Netherlands The Thomas Vroom Collection, Bonhams, Sydney, 6 September 2015, lot 21 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Don Hocking Pudjamali, Untitled, 1966
Don Hocking Pudjamali,
Untitled 1966
natural earth pigments on carved ironwood
22.5 x 4.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Bathurst Island, Northern Territory Bathurst Island Catholic Mission, Northern Territory Lance Bennett, Northern Territory, acquired from the above in 1966 Thomas Vroom, The Netherlands The Thomas Vroom Collection, Bonhams, Sydney, 6 June 2015, lot 20 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Crusoe Guningbal, Mimih Spirit Figure, circa 1979
Crusoe Guningbal,
Mimih Spirit Figure circa 1979
earth pigments on wood
55.1 x 4 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Maningrida, West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Maningrida Arts & Culture, Northern Territory , United States of America, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 6,000
AVAILABLE
Crusoe Guningbal, Mimih Spirit, circa 1970
Crusoe Guningbal,
Mimih Spirit circa 1970
earth pigments on wood
39.5 x 3.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Maningrida, West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Maningrida Progress Association, Northern Territory The Martin Rae Collection, United States of America
USD 4,000
AVAILABLE
Crusoe Guningbal, Mimih Spirit Figure circa 1979,
Crusoe Guningbal,
Mimih Spirit Figure circa 1979
earth pigments on wood
68.8 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Maningrida, West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Maningrida Arts & Culture, Northern Territory , United States of America, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 8,000
AVAILABLE
Lipundja, Untitled – Wild Honey Figure, circa 1963
Lipundja,
Untitled – Wild Honey Figure circa 1963
earth pigments on wood
20.5 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory , Melbourne Important Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 27 March 2013, lot 25 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Lipundja, Untitled, circa 1965
Lipundja,
Untitled circa 1965
natural earth pigments on wood
15.75 x 2.25 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, executed at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 15–16 November 2005, lot 473 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 5,000
AVAILABLE
Lipundja, Untitled, circa 1965
Lipundja,
Untitled circa 1965
earth pigments on wood
35.5 x 4.25 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Leo Fleischmann, Sydney , Sydney, acquired in 1984 Australian Indigenous & Oceanic Art, Day 1, Mossgreen Auctions, Melbourne, 22 July 2014, lot 34 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 16,000
AVAILABLE
Dick Ngulmarmar (attributed), Untitled, circa 1960
Dick Ngulmarmar (attributed),
Untitled circa 1960
earth pigments on softwood
47 x 6.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Geoffrey W. Spence, Botanical Gardens Museum and Gallery, Darwin George W. Gill, Kansas, United States of America The Spence-Gill Collection, Wyoming, United States of America Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 28 June 1999, lot 126 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
On Hold
Artist Unknown, Untitled, circa 1960
Artist Unknown,
Untitled circa 1960
earth pigments on wood
41 x 7 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Stan Moriarty Collection, cat. no. 8425 Gabriella Roy, Sydney , Melbourne Aboriginal, African & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 9 November 1998, lot 222 , Melbourne Aboriginal Art: 10th Anniversary Auction, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 31 July 2006, lot 49 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 35,000
AVAILABLE
Artist Unknown, Untitled, circa 1960
Artist Unknown,
Untitled circa 1960
earth pigments on wood
48.5 x 6 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory William Jamieson, Toronto African & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s, New York, November 2002, lot 195 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 35,000
AVAILABLE
Artist Unknown, Untitled, circa 1963
Artist Unknown,
Untitled circa 1963
earth pigments on hardwood
32.75 x 16 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Gardens Museum and Art Gallery, Darwin George W. Spence, New South Wales Spence-Gill Collection, University of Wyoming, United States of America Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 28 June 1999, lot 127 , Melbourne, acquired from the above Joel Fine Art, Melbourne, 6 May 2007, lot 8 The Luczo Family Collection, United States of America, acquired from the above Aboriginal Art from the Luczo Family Collection, Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 19 October 2016, lot 73 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 35,000
AVAILABLE
Artist Unknown, Untitled, 1965
Artist Unknown,
Untitled 1965
earth pigments on wood
19 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Collected by Joseph Von Sternberg, 1965, United States of America, acquired from the above Sotheby’s, New York, 1984, lot 501 , Queensland Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s Melbourne 25 July 2005, lot 216 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 6,000
AVAILABLE
Muŋgarawuy Yunupiŋu, Lanydjung, circa 1960
Muŋgarawuy Yunupiŋu,
Lanydjung circa 1960
earth pigments on wood, human hair, resin, feathers, plant fibre string
35 x 5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Yirrkala, northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Yirrkala Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Thomas Vroom, The Netherlands The Thomas Vroom Collection, Bonhams, Sydney, 6 September 2015, lot 23 Tim Klingender Art, Sydney, 2019 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 30,000
AVAILABLE
Muŋgarawuy Yunupiŋu, Lanydjung, 1959
Muŋgarawuy Yunupiŋu,
Lanydjung 1959
earth pigments, resin, feathers, plant fibre, feathers, string on hardwood
32.5 x 4.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Yirrkala, northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Yirrkala Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Important Aboriginal Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 24 June 2002, lot 50 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
USD 30,000
AVAILABLE
Dawidi Birritjama, Untitled, circa 1965
Dawidi Birritjama,
Untitled circa 1965
earth pigments and cockatoo feathers on wood
34 x 15 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Northern Territory D’Lan Davidson, Queensland, 2016 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Birrikitji Gumana, Untitled, circa 1960
Birrikitji Gumana,
Untitled circa 1960
earth pigments on wood with dillybag, string and feathers
15.5 x 4.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Yirrkala, northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Yirrkala Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 15–16 November 2005, lot 473 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Narritjin Maymuru, Untitled, circa 1968
Narritjin Maymuru,
Untitled circa 1968
earth pigments on wood
213.5 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Yirrkala, northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Yirrkala Methodist Mission, Northern Territory Valentine Smith, acquired late 1960s The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Sold
Mawalan Marika, Untitled, circa 1962
Mawalan Marika,
Untitled circa 1962
earth pigments on milkwood
18.75 x 4.25 ″
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Yirrkala, north-east Arnhem Land Yirrkala Methodist Mission, Northern Territory , Australian Capital Territory Australian Aboriginal Art, Lawson~Menzies, Sydney, 14 November 2007, lot 153 The Martin Rae Collection, New York, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold