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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Desert Mob

A cultural event celebrating Aboriginal art & connection to Country in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

Exhibition + Artist Talks + Marketplace + Public Programs + Satellite Events + More
10 Sept - 25 Oct 2026
Presented by Desart. Presented by Desart, Desert Mob returns to Mparntwe/Alice Springs from Thursday 5 September – Sunday 20 October 2024. Comprising an exhibition, symposium, market, public programs, satellite events and activations across Mparntwe, Desert Mob is one of nations most highly an

ticipated annual events, bringing desert communities and families together in Mparntwe to celebrate their enduring culture. The Desert Mob 2024 program will feature presentations, artist talks, workshops and demonstrations, film, music and performances. Full program, and ticketing information for the symposium and other specific events, to be announced.

05/03/2026

Travelling to Mparntwe for Desert Mob in 2026? ✨

Desert Mob brings together hundreds of artists to celebrate desert culture on Arrernte Country in the heart of Australia, and now is a great time to book your travel with up to $175 off* flights to Mparntwe/Alice Springs with Webjet!

Webjet have dropped prices across all airlines for a limited time only so book your flights to join us from Thursday 10th September for the very special opening of Desert Mob 2026.

Sale is on now until Monday 9 March 2026 or until sold out.
*Terms and conditions apply.

Book now: https://www.webjet.com.au/destinations/northern-territory/?utm_source=Referral&utm_medium=WEBAD298_TNT&utm_campaign=Social

Images: 2-7. Desert Mob 2025. Photos by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy Desart.

04/12/2025

Give the gift of Desert Mob this Christmas with our limited-edition merch!🎄

Shop the 2025 range via our online store at https://desertmob.com/product-category/merchandise/ now:

🦘Rootail Bag featuring textile by Yarrenyty Arltere Artists

☀️ Embroidered Desert Mob 2025 Cap to beat the heat this summer

🎄Waxed cotton canvas Desert Mob Tote Bag to take on your travels

🎊 Extra fun & festive cotton knitted Desert Mob 2025 Socks

✨ Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue wrapped in the beautiful cover artwork, ‘Seed story’ 2025 by Topsy Kemarre Steppa Beasley of Artists of the Barkly featuring art centre profiles, Desert Mob feature works, and wonderful artist stories from across the Central Desert.

Head to https://desertmob.com/product-category/merchandise/ to start your Christmas shopping now! 🎄

*Postage available at checkout – order before 12 December to receive your order in time for Christmas.

25/11/2025

Desert Mob 2025 was a joyful and momentous celebration of desert art, culture, community and country.

This year, hundreds of artists from 35 art centres across the desert homelands came together on Arrernte country in Mparnwte/Alice Springs for Desert Mob. From the exhibition which featured 187 new and emerging artists and showcased 196 works, the moving presentations, discussions and films at the Artist Talks, to the buzzing atmosphere of the marketplace, workshops and satellite events, Desert Mob proudly shone the light on the strength of culture and the artistic brilliance of artists.

Desart sincerely thanks the artists and their art centres who shared their art, stories, songs, and memories with all of us during Desert Mob. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our presenters and performers, Araluen Arts Centre, 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm - Alice Springs & Tennant Creek, Yaye's Cafe, Central Craft Alice Springs, Kungkas Can Cook and Triptic Events for their support, along with everyone who worked with us this year.

And to the thousands who attended the many events across Desert Mob 2025, thank you!

Desart also acknowledges and thanks the Northern Territory Government, Northern Territory Major Events Company, Arts NT, the Northern Territory Community Benefit Fund, Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support and Visual Arts and Craft Strategy program, and The Ian Potter Foundation.

Desert Mob 2026 dates announced soon - be sure to subscribe to our mailing list via our website for updates!

Images: 1. Louise Robertson of Yarrenyty Arltere Artists at their Soft Sculpture Workshop at Desert Mob Marketplace, 2025. 2. Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition featuring sculptural works by Greenbush Art Group. 3. Warren H Williams performing at Desert Mob 2025 Opening night. 4. (L-R) Ingrid Williams, Marjorie Nunga Williams and Coralie Kunmanara Williams of Tangentyere Artists at Desert Mob 2025 Opening night. 5. Ngangkari traditional healers from NPY Women’s Council and Iwantja Arts presenting at Desert Mob Artist Talks 2025. 6. Hayley Panangka Coulthard of Hermannsburg Potters at the ceramics workshop during Desert Mob Marketplace, 2025. 7. Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition opening night featuring works by Hermmansburg Potters and Warlukurlangu Artists. 8. Desart CEO, Philip Watkins at Desert Mob 2025 Opening night. 9. Deloris Miller and Selinda Davidson of Ninuku Arts presenting at Desert Mob Artist Talks 2025. 10. Tjanpi Desert Weavers at Desert Mob Marketplace, 2025. 11. Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition opening night.

All images by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of Desart.

23/10/2025

[Disclaimer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this post contains images and names of deceased persons.]

Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue | Full colour, illustrated, 122 pages, with soft cover.

Ned Kelly from Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre hopes to one day meet every other artist featured in this year’s Desert Mob catalogue!

Wrapped in the beautiful cover artwork detail of ‘Seed story’ by Topsy Kemarre Steppa Beasley of Barkly Regional Arts, the 2025 catalogue features 32 participating art centre profiles along with stories and interviews from 6 feature artists, including Ned Kelly, as they reflect on their artworks in the Desert Mob 2025 exhibition, sharing stories of country, culture and community.

With a foreword by June Smith, Chairperson of Desart Executive Committee, preface by Desart CEO Philip Watkins, thematic essay by Curator of Aboriginal Art and Material Culture at Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Rebekah Raymond and design by Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman and KarraJarri Saltwater designer, Jenna Lee, the catalogue provides rich context to Desert Mob.

The Desert Mob 2025 catalogue is available to purchase online at https://desertmob.com/product/4008783-desert-mob-2025-catalogue/ or visit the Desert Mob Exhibition at Araluen Arts Centre in Mparntwe to pick up a copy.

Desert Mob 2025 concludes this Sunday 26th October.

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Images: 1. Ned Kelly Jungarrayi reading the Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue. Photo courtesy of Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre. 2. Ned Kelly Jungarrayi in front of his work, ‘West from Jarra Jarra (where those two Jungarrayis started walking), 2025. Photo by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of Desart. 3. Ned Kelly Jungarrayi’s Artist Story, Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue. 4. Topsy Kemarre Steppa Beasley, 2025. Photo by Oliver Eclipse Photography. Courtesy of Barkly Regional Arts and 8 Hele Gallery. 5. Topsy Kemarre Steppa Beasley’s Artist Story, Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue. 6. Mr Jack in the Ernabella Arts studio in Pukatja, 2025. Photo by Rowena Withers. Courtesy of Ernabella Arts. 7. Mr Jack’s Artist Story, Desert Mob Catalogue 2025. 8. Excerpt from the Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue featuring quote by Clinton Oliver of Ltyenyte Apurte Traditional Craft Centre. 9-10. Desert Mob 2025 Catalogue cover image (front and back) - Topsy Kemarre Steppa Beasley, b. circa 1932, Alyawarr people, Seed story, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on found metal canister, 47.5 x 40 cm, © Topsy Steppa Beasley/Copyright Agency, 2025. Photo by Fiona Morrison, courtesy of Desart.

20/10/2025

Final week of Desert Mob 2025!

Desert Mob comes to a close this Sunday 26th October. This your last chance to experience the extraordinary 196 works, by 187 emerging and senior artists, from 32 art centres across Central Australia.

Don’t miss your final opportunity to view and ethically purchase works that are proudly created by artists of Aboriginal-governed community art centres from across the desert.

Desert Mob 2025 is on now at the Araluen Arts Centre Galleries in Mparntwe / Alice Springs, 10am – 4pm daily.

Not able to see Desert Mob in person? View and purchase works from Desert Mob 2025 online at www.desertmob.com/exhibition-shop/

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Desart Araluen Arts Centre

Images: 1. Adrian Jangala Robertson and Charles Jangala Inkamala of Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. 2. Desert Mob 2025 exhibition featuring works by artists of Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre (front), and Papulankutja Artists and Iwantja Arts. 3. (L-R) Andrea Pungarta Rontji and Hayley Panangka Coulthard of Hermannsburg Potters at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. 4. Desert Mob 2025 exhibition featuring works by artists of Martumili Artists and Greenbush Art Group. 5. Stefan Smith of Ltyentye Apurte Traditional Craft Centre with his works, ‘Alye (boomerang)’ at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. 6. Desert Mob 2025 exhibition featuring Tjanpi Desert Weavers’ collaborative works, ‘Tjapu-tjapu inkama! (Play ball!)’. 7. Kathy Inkamala of Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre with her work, ‘Kwartatuma (Ormiston Gorge), NT’ at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. 8. Desert Mob 2025 opening night featuring ‘Minyma Malilunya’ by Teresa Baker of Tjungu Palya. 9. Desert Mob 2025 exhibition featuring works by Tapatjatjaka Art & Craft and Arlpwe Art & Culture Centre.

All images by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of the artists and Desart.

16/10/2025

What a truly special evening at Desert Mob After Dark. ✨

In a celebration under the stars, Rayleen Brown of Kungkas Can Cook and our friends at Yaye's Cafe served up a delicious bush foods feast on Yarrenyty Arltere Artists unique tablecloths and complimented by the heartfelt sounds of Arrernte and Arabunna singer-songwriter Klint Buzzacott in his debut solo performance.

Providing rich context to the Desert Mob exhibition, curators Hetti Perkins and Aspen Beattie also led an intimate floor talk through the Araluen Arts Centre galleries showcasing the wonderful works of 32 art centres from across the Central Desert region.

Immense thanks to Rayleen, Maxi and the Kungkas Can Cook and Yaye’s Cafe teams, Klint Buzzacott, 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm - Alice Springs & Tennant Creek, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Sara Maiorino, and the Araluen Arts Centre for their support.

Be sure to follow and listen to Klint Buzzacott’s wonderful music available on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.

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Desart Araluen Arts Centre

All images by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of Desart.

15/10/2025

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHT: Imitjala Curley of Kaltjiti Arts

“Ngayuku ngunytjuku ngura (it’s my mother’s country). Titji tjuṯa (many children), this is part of the Minyma Kututja Tjukurpa of Walytjitjata. The Minyma Kututja and her husband had many children. They travelled to Umutju, east of Walytjitjata. The oldest boy, Wantama, was homesick for their birthplace, Kanpininy, near Walytjitjata. The children told their mother, ‘We’re going back home with our brother.’ The mother sang a song to send them away. At Umutju they turned into stone and are still there today.”

Imitjala Curley

‘Walytjitjata: Ngayuku ngunytjuku ngura’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 152 x 61 cm.

Imitjala Curley was born in Pukatja (Ernabella) in 1953. Her parents moved with her to Kaltjiti (Fregon) when the cattle station was established in 1961. A senior woman, Imitjala holds cultural knowledge relating to the Ngintaka (Perentie lizard) and Ngapari (Sugar leaf) Tjukurpa at Watarru.

Imitjala’s connection to the Kampurparpa Tjukurpa in the Walytjitjata region is through her mother, Puni Puni. This place is a small homeland just over the Northern Territory border approximately 46 km north of Kalka. Imitjala has been working with Kaltjiti Arts since it began as a craftroom in the early 1960s and we are thrilled to have her work exhibiting in Desert Mob 2025 alongside her daughter, Meredith Curley’s work ‘Kungkarangkalpa Tjukula Tjukurpa (Seven Sisters Rockhole)’.

View and purchase Imitjala’s work in the Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition - on now until Sunday 26th September at the Araluen Arts Centre and online at https://desertmob.com/art-centers/kaltjiti-arts/ ✨

Image captions: 1. Imitjala Curley of Kaltjiti Arts. Photo courtesy the artist and Kaltjiti Arts. 2. Imitjala Curley with her daughter, Meredith Curley at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. Photo by Sara Maiorino. Courtesy Desart. 3. Imitjala Curley, ‘alytjitjata: Ngayuku ngunytjuku ngura, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 152 x 61 cm. Photo by Fiona Morrison. Courtesy Desart.

06/10/2025

Desert Mob After Dark returns this Wednesday evening for an intimate night of art, food and music at the Araluen Arts Centre Cultural Precinct to celebrate Desert Mob 2025!

The Araluen Galleries will open after hours for an exclusive viewing of the Desert Mob 2025 exhibition and talk by Desert Mob Curators Hetti Perkins and Aspen Beattie, followed by a delicious alfresco meal incorporating bush foods by Kungkas Can Cook co-founder, Rayleen Brown in collaboration with our friends at Yaye's Cafe.

Young Arrernte and Arabunna man from Mparntwe, Klint Buzzacott, will also take the stage with his debut performance of original music along with some classic covers. Drawing on themes of romance and nostalgia, Klint describes his sound as atmospheric blues/pop — a heartfelt exploration of life, love and emotion. Over the past year and a half, Klint has been performing with his father, acclaimed local musician Keith Buzzacott, focusing on Keith’s well-loved catalogue. Now stepping into his own as a songwriter and performer, Klint brings the next generation’s voice to the stage, with Keith supporting him on lead guitar in a continuation of their powerful father-son collaboration.

After Dark is now sold out but the Desert Mob exhibition is open daily until 26th October. Head to the Araluen Arts Centre to view in person or online at https://desertmob.com/exhibition-shop/

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Images: 1. Klint Buzzacott performing with his father, Keith Buzzacott. 2-5. Desert Mob After Dark 2024. Courtesy Desart. All photos by Sara Maiorino ().

03/10/2025

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHT: Marlene Panangka Rubuntja of Yarrenyty Arltere Artists

“Well, these ones I painted, I was thinking about this from when my father was painting in the Todd River. Monday to Friday he was a butcher at Amoonguna, and my mother was a cleaner dressed all in green, and then come Friday afternoon, get the boards and then all day Saturday and Sunday do painting in the Todd River. Sitting near where that ding-dong is now, you know, that casino! We would sit down in the river, and he would make paintings and sell them, and buy food for us and catch a taxi home every night. I just love being an artist and seeing all those good colours and getting those good feelings.”

Marlene Panangka Rubuntja

‘All those good feelings!’, 2025, fabric paint on dyed linen triptych: 44 x 141, 44.5 x 150, 44.5 x 150 cm.

Marlene Rubuntja was born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and grew up at Amoonguna community, east of Alice Springs. Marlene’s father, Mr. W. Rubuntja, was one of the leading founders of Tangentyere Council and instrumental in gaining tenure and rights for Town Camp residents. As a community leader, speaking up for her people, Marlene has followed in her father’s footsteps. Marlene is both an activist and artist. She has been instrumental in taking the Yarrenyty Arltere Artists from their small studio in their Town Camp out to a national and international audience. She has supported and nurtured the wisdom, skills, abilities and artistic careers of others around her. Marlene’s work as an artist, role model, and leader has been instrumental in growing Yarrenyty Arltere Artists into a vibrant and successful enterprise.

Read Marlene’s full story in the Desert Mob 2025 catalogue and view Yarrenyty Arltere Artists work in the Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition at the Araluen Arts Centre and online until 26th October here: https://desertmob.com/art-centers/yarrenyty-arltere-artists/

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Images: 1. Marlene Rubuntja at Desert Mob 2025 opening night with her works, ‘Bird with headpiece 2025’ (front) and ‘All those good feelings! 2025’ (back). Photo by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of Desart. 2. Marlene Panangka Rubuntja, All those good feelings!, 2025, fabric paint on dyed linen triptych: 44 x 141, 44.5 x 150, 44.5 x 150 cm. Photo by Fiona Morrison. Courtesy Desart. 3-4. Marlene Rubuntja in the Yarrenyty Arltere studio. Photo courtesy the artist and Yarrenyty Arltere Artists. 5-6. Desert Mob 2025 opening night featuring works by Yarrenyty Alrtere Artists. Photo by Sara Maiorino (). Courtesy of Desart.

01/10/2025

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHT: Ernabella Arts

“Ernabella artist tjuṯangku tjukurpa munu walka tjuṯa ceramic-angka walkatjunu.

Ernabella artists telling their own stories and sharing their own designs on this large ceramic.”

Tjukurpa munu walka tjuṯatjara (Many stories and designs) 2025
stoneware and underglaze
58.5 x 35 cm Ø

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM - Kungkarangkaḻpa (Seven Sisters)
Carlene Thompson - Kaḻaya Ngura (Emu Country)
Mr Jack - Pulukangka (Stockman)
Alison Milyika Carroll - Wira walka (Dish design)
Elizabeth Dunn - Piltaṯi
Langaliki Lewis - Ngayuku walka (My design)
Derek Thompson - Maku (Witchetty Grub)
Vivian Thompson - Kungkarangkaḻpa (Seven Sisters)
Lynette Lewis - Tjaḻa (Honey Ant)
Yaritji Jack - Nyaḻpi puṉu ilykuwara (Leaf of witchetty tree)
Ngunytjima Carroll - Ngayuku walka (My design)
Fiona Wells - Anapalaku walka (Ernabella’s design)
Marissa Thompson - Ikarka (Spotted Bowerbird)
Janelle Thompson - Ngayuku walka (My design)
Marceena Jack - Ngayuku walka (My design)
Jayanna Andy - Tjukuḻa (Waterhole)

For Desert Mob 2025, 16 artists from Australia’s oldest, continuously running Indigenous art centre, Ernabella Arts, have collaborated on an incredible ceramics work.

From Seven Sisters to Honey Ants, each individual face of the pot tells the artists’ own stories of culture, country, bush foods, and animals.

Established in 1948, Ernabella Arts is in Pukatja Community at the eastern end of the Musgrave Ranges in the far north-west of South Australia. The art centre’s reputation lies in the adaptability and innovation of the artists, who have embraced many different mediums since the craft room began, including batik and ceramics. Today, the artists are a mix of young and old, men and women, fostering the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and skills.

View and purchase the works of Ernabella Arts at the Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition - on now until Sunday 26th September at the Araluen Arts Centre and online at https://desertmob.com/art-centers/yarrenyty-arltere-artists/.

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Image captions: 1-3. Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM, Elizabeth Dunn, Langaliki Lewis, Lynette Lewis, Carlene Thompson, Vivian Thompson, Fiona Wells, Alison Milyika Carroll, Mr Jack, Derek Thompson, Yaritji Jack, Ngunytjima Carroll, Marissa Thompson, Janelle Thompson, Marceena Jack, Jayanna Andy, Tjukurpa munu walka tjuṯatjara (Many stories and designs), 2025, stoneware and underglaze, 58.5 x 35 cm Ø. Photo by Fiona Morrison. Courtesy Desart. 4. Alison Milyika Carroll of Ernabella Arts at Desert Mob 2025 opening night. Photo by Sara Maiorino (). 5. Desert Mob 2025 featuring works by Ernabella Arts. Photo by Sara Maiorino. Courtesy Desart. 6. Elizabeth Dunn working on her panel, ‘Piltaṯi’. 7. Langaliki Lewis working on her panel, ‘Ngayuku walka (My design)’. 8. Carlene Thompson working on her panel, ‘Kaḻaya Ngura (Emu Country)’. Images 6-8 courtesy of the artists and Ernabella Arts.

26/09/2025

Featuring 196 works by 187 artists from 32 art centres across the Central Desert region, Desert Mob 2025 is an unmissable opportunity to view and ethically purchase artworks by emerging and established artists from some of Australia’s most remote Aboriginal communities.

Over the opening weekend alone, close to 70% of the exhibition sold to those lucky enough to see it in person, as well as a number of online sales for anyone who couldn’t make the journey to Mparntwe.

Even though our big opening weekend is over, plenty of artworks still remain, so our curators Hetti Perkins and Aspen Beattie have specially selected 10 major works still available to view and purchase either in person at the Araluen Arts Centre until 26th October or online at www.desertmob.com:

🌟 Julie Nangala Robertson, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation - ‘Mina Mina Jukurrpa’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 x 91 cm.

🌟Matjangka (Nyukana) Norris, Kaltjiti Arts - ‘Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters)’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198.5 x 291 cm.

🌟Andrea Pungarta Rontji, Hermannsburg Potters - ‘Lhurrpa (Winter)’, 2025, terracotta and underglazes, 34 x 25 cm ø.

🌟Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM, Ernabella Arts - ‘Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters)’, 2025, stoneware and underglaze, 44 x 22 cm ø.

🌟 Angus Tjungurrayi, Murmur, Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd - ‘Murmur, south of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay)’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 123 x 152.5 cm with box frame.

🌟 Naomi Kantjuriny, Tjala Arts - ‘Minyma mamu’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 198 x 197 cm.

🌟 Carbiene McDonald, Papunya Tjupi Arts - ‘Four Dreamings’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 122 x 152.5 cm.

🌟 Rita Kemarr Beasley, Barkly Regional Arts - ‘Wutunugurra’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 61.5 x 76.5 cm.

🌟 Adrian Jangala Robertson, Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists - ‘Stockman days’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 90.5 x 91 cm.

🌟 Ned Kelly, Arlpwe Art and Culture Centre - ‘Two brother (south-west of Jarra Jarra)’, 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122.5 x 152 cm.

All artwork images in order as above.
All images by Fiona Morrison.

Address

61 Larapinta Drive, Araluen
Alice Springs, NT
0870

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61889534736

Website

http://desertmob.com/

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