Last updated: 27 October 2026
Emily Kam Kngwarray was the Australian artist who began painting in earnest in her late 70s and made her major works in eight years. Here you will find our take on her work, the Tate Modern show and the book and prints you can buy.
Our take on Emily Kam Kngwarray
Kngwarray lived on her Ancestral Country in Australia’s Northern Territory and, according to Tate, never left her community even as she became famous across Australia.
She began painting in earnest in her late 70s and worked intensely for the next eight years, until her death in 1996. Her paintings layer motifs of vines, seeds, lizards and emus, and carry stories and knowledge held across generations.
Tate Modern’s 2025 show brought 80 of her works together in Europe for the first time. The exhibition book and made-to-order prints are the ways in.
Emily Kam Kngwarray: the essentials
- Lived c.1914 to 1996, according to Tate.
- Lived on her Ancestral Country in the Northern Territory, Australia.
- Began painting in earnest in her late 70s.
- Works include Ntang Dreaming (1989) and Winter Abstraction (1993).
Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibitions
- Emily Kam Kngwarray, Tate Modern, London, 10 July 2025 to 11 January 2026, with 80 works.
Where to buy Emily Kam Kngwarray prints and books
From the Tate shop:
Emily Kam Kngwarray FAQs
When did Emily Kam Kngwarray start painting?
She began painting in earnest in her late 70s and worked for the next eight years, until 1996.
When was the Emily Kam Kngwarray show at Tate Modern?
From 10 July 2025 to 11 January 2026.
Can I buy an Emily Kam Kngwarray print?
Yes. The Tate shop sells made-to-order prints of her paintings from £30.
Is there a book on Emily Kam Kngwarray?
Yes. The Tate exhibition book is £32 in paperback.
More from CoolCuration
- Great Women Artists: the Phaidon survey for your shelf.
- Best affordable art in the UK: where to start collecting prints.
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK.
- Gifts for artists: our edit of presents for people who make things.
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Main image: Emily Kam Kngwarray, Ntang, 1990. Image courtesy Tate. Framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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