Published on Thursday, 19 February 2026 at 3:56:00 PM
Two Martumili artists from the Shire of East Pilbara will take Pilbara stories, Martu culture and deep connections to Country to Melbourne this month, with Corban Clause Williams and Judith Anya Samson presenting major solo exhibitions during Melbourne Art Fair week.
Born in Newman and based in Parnngurr, Corban Clause Williams will debut his first Melbourne solo exhibition at Melbourne Art Fair (19–22 February 2026), presented by Emilia Galatis Projects. The immersive presentation features new large-scale paintings, textile works and design pieces that reflect Martu Country, Tjukurpa, and his lived connection to place.
Concurrently, fellow Martumili artist Judith Anya Samson opens Anya’s Puntawarri World! in Collingwood, presented by Agency Projects in collaboration with Martumili Artists. The exhibition transforms painting into an immersive environment, bringing together bold imagery, sculptural elements and textured works drawn from Martu cultural knowledge, family histories and life across remote communities and towns.
Samson, raised between Port Hedland, Jigalong, and Newman, is renowned for expressive works depicting sandhills, waterholes and Country — guided by her grandmother’s artistic legacy and strong ties to Martu homelands. Anya’s Puntawarri World! invites audiences to step inside her visual stories of place, memory and cultural continuity.
Judith Anya Samson said painting her Country brings her joy and keeps her strong.
“Painting my Country makes me happy, pukurlpa. This show is for my family and my nanna’s stories — showing people Puntawarri and how strong we are.”
Both artists will travel to Melbourne with Martumili staff, marking a proud milestone for the Newman-based art centre and its two-decade commitment to supporting Martu artists to share their stories nationally and internationally.
Corban Clause Williams said taking his work to Melbourne is about representing Country and sustaining cultural knowledge.
“Some people only see a painting, but there are stories behind it,” he said. “This is about showing people my Country and the story that lives inside the work.”
During Melbourne Art Fair week, Williams and Samson will also appear together in Martu Wangka, an artist talk on Friday 21 February exploring the responsibility of caring for Tjukurpa and cultural knowledge through contemporary art practice.
Supported by the Shire of East Pilbara, Martumili has supported Martu artists from across the Western Desert for more than two decades, helping share stories grounded in Country, culture and community with audiences across Australia and beyond.
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