Leigh Namponan was born in 1965 in Cairns and raised in Aurukun. He spent a lot of his childhood at an outstation south of Aurukun in his family’s country.

Leigh is the second eldest of eight children born to Angus Namponan and Chrissie Peemuggina.

Leigh belongs to the Apalech ceremonial group from his father’s country at Warpang, just inland from Cape Keerweer. His language groups are Wik-Alkan (father’s side) and Wik-Ngathan (mother’s side).

Leigh’s totems on his father’s side include; the Kangaroo, Bush Rat, Freshwater Shark, Spear, Small Carpet Snake, Salmon, Knee and Single-barb Hardwood Spear. On his mother’s side the Freshwater Shark, Night Owl and Salmon.

Leigh also shares totems associated with the Wik-Alkenh language group. His traditional homelands are south of Aurukun: Aayk, Kirk River and Warpang (near Cape Keer-Weer), Cape Keer-Weer which is the location of his family home.

Leigh’s mother’s country is Aayk and her language being Wik-Ngathan.

Leigh’s father, Anagus Namponan was prominent Wik carver in Aurukun.  Most of his sons have followed in his footsteps.  Leigh’s brothers, Garry, Lex, Leigh, Bevan and Leo are established and emerging carvers and form an important core of artists within the Wik and Kugu Arts Centre.

Leigh works across a range of media including carving, painting, ceramics and printmaking. “I like doing art because it helps me to learn about culture more and show others how we make art here in Aurukun”.

 

EXHIBITIONS

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2023

Aak Min Exhibition, Vault Gallery, Aboriginal Art Co, Brisbane, 2023

Aak Puul: Art from the Wik & Kugu Region, The Brunswick Street Gallery, 2022

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2022

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2021

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2020

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2019

Sydney Contemporary 2018

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2017

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2016

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2015

 

 

 

Exhibition History

2018 Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair 2018, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2019 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2019, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2017 Present Tense. Past Legacy: Present Tense, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC

2017 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2017, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2016 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2016, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2015 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2015, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2014 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2014, Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2009 Ina’Ngeen: Sculptures and Painting from Aurukun, Cooee Art Gallery, Sydney NSW

2013 Aurukun 2013, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2011 Century: Art In the First Decade, Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane QLD

2010 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs NT

2009 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Australian Design Centre, Sydney NSW

2011 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Cairns Art Gallery, Cairns QLD

2011 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane QLD

2010 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Launceston, TAS

2010 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Tandanya, Adelaide SA

2012 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga NSW

2010 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Western Australian Museum, Perth WA

2012 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo NSW

2014 Nyiingkan , KickArts, Cairns QLD

2014 Totems: Contemporary Carvings from Aurukun, JamFactory, Adelaide SA

2012 From Cape to Cove, Holmes a Court Gallery, Perth WA

2010 Aurukun Artists: Ach-umpan , Andrew Baker Art Dealer, Brisbane QLD

2008 Aurukun Sculpture, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2009 Aurukun Artists, Yuk Wiy Min (Wood and Other Things), Andrew Baker Gallery, Brisbane QLD

2017 Wik & Kugu 2017, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD

2007 Puulway, Wik & Kugu Totems by the artists of Aurukun, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2013 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane QLD

2006 Aurukun Artists , Hogarth Galleries, Sydney NSW

2015 Dog Show, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD

2006 Aurukun Men, Sculptures - Aurukun Women, Fibre Works, Andrew Baker Dealer, Brisbane QLD

2005 Aurukun Artists, Paintings and Sculptures, Andrew Baker Dealer, Brisbane QLD

2019 Wik and Kugu Art Centre represented by Black Square Arts, Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks, Sydney NSW

2019 Salon des Refusés 2019, Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, Darwin NT

2014 My Country: Contemporary Art from Black Australia, curated by Bruce McLean, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

2013 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane QLD

2017 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville QLD

2016 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Toowoomba Regional Gallery, Toowoomba QLD

2017 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, Caboolture QLD

2019 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Gladstone QLD

2017 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Gympie Regional Gallery, Gympie QLD

2016 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Logan Art Gallery, Logan QLD

2017 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Redland Art Gallery, Redland QLD

2016 My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition, Rockhampton Art Gallery, Rockhamton QLD