Artist

Ada Pula Beasley is an important artist from the Barkly Region of the Northern Territory, known for her vibrant depictions of Alyawarr Country.

Beasley began her artistic career with the Artists of Ampilatwatja before she moved to the small community of Wutunugurra (Epenarra), nestled in the foothills of Ilytwelepenty (the Davenport Ranges). Beasley has since practised with the Epenarra Artists as a senior member of the Artists of the Barkly collective.

Beasley’s practice sits at the crossroads of impressionistic and realist, with her depictions of Country rendered in a distinctive dabbing technique. These brief hazy strokes coalesce to form trees, shrubs and flowers in a palette that draws from the local flowers of the region.

Her rhythmic technique captures the red sandhill landscape of Alyawarr Country blooming with wildflowers and awash with lush greens. As Beasley describes her paintings ‘tell story about my Country. After the bushfires, when the rain comes and brings back all the bush flowers and bush medicine back again and make it green, this [is] why I do this painting, reminds me when we go hunting after the bush fire and see just black, then it rains and brings flowers back and the trees and the blue skies, and the snappy gum trees up the hill’.

Beasley presented her debut exhibition at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne in 2024.

© The Artist, Barkly Regional Arts and Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne 2024

For an extended CV, please contact Alcaston Gallery at art@alcastongallery.com.au