Rusty Peters: Soul of a true artist departs Warmun

Renowned Aboriginal artist Rusty Peters has died in Kununurra aged 85.

Rusty Peters in 2015.

Renowned Aboriginal artist Rusty Peters, who was respected as one of the last great East Kimberley lawmen, has died in Kununurra aged 85.

A stellar artist from the ochre-painting tradition of Warmun Gija people, his paintings hang in Parliament House in Canberra and in major art collections around the nation.

Mr Peters was surrounded by family members on Thursday night after being flown back from Broome Hospital to Kununurra.

Last night we lost one of the great Gija artists in Mr R Peters.

Chairman of Warmun arts, extraordinary cultural leader and educator who produced art celebrated around the globe.

A big author of our big national story. pic.twitter.com/ry2tTSHGwW

— Ben Wyatt MLA (@benwyatt) July 31, 2020

His close friend, linguist Frances Kofod, said he passed away peacefully. She said his distinctive paintings in traditional red and yellow ochres and black charcoal were recognisably part of the “Warmun” style, but the intricate curves mapping Country, dark caves and rivers in his pictures are particular hallmarks.

Ms Kofod, who has worked closely with the artist since 1987 documenting his Dreaming stories and Gija language, said a hallmark of his large canvasses and panels was his profoundly thoughtful approach.

“He was one of a number of Aboriginal people who have become important artists, both aesthetically and because of the depth of their knowledge and philosophy,” she said.

“No other artist, black or white, has done paintings on the subjects that he did.”

The senior Gija man was born under a Warlagarri or supplejack tree on Springvale Station south west of Warmun, learning traditional law and working as a stockman. When his father was killed in a riding accident, the family moved to Mabel Downs where he became renowned as a horse breaker.

He lived for some time at Nine Mile reserve at Wyndham after the introduction of award wages forced people off stations but then moved to Turkey Creek, now Warmun.

He began painting in earnest in 1998, and in recent years was one of the most prominent artists painting out of Warmun Art Centre, with his artist sister Mabel Juli.