The Art and Story of Selma Coulthard
Our latest collection, Tjoritja, celebrates the work of Selma Coulthard, a senior artist from Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre. Unfortunately, on our trip to Mparntwe/Alice Springs, we were not able to meet in person, but her work and story are central to our collaboration with Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre.
Selma's Postage Stamp artwork brings a joyful, graphic rhythm to the capsule, with a standout Stamp Clutch - it's scalloped edges echoing the artwork’s original postcard form - a playful nod to Selma’s vibrant composition. Complemented by soft summer pieces including a linen scalloped tank, cotton tee and canvas tote, these designs offer a unique and meaningful touch to our wardrobes this season.
Read on as we share more about Selma’s work and the continuation of her culture.
Selma is an accomplished acrylic and watercolour painter who grew up in Ntaria (Hermannsburg), where she first discovered her love for art. Born in 1954, Selma’s early years were spent at Urrampinyi (Tempe Downs Station), her family’s Country southwest of Alice Springs.
“I have always wanted to be an artist,” Selma says. “I usually try and remember the landscape and the way the colours change in different times of the day — sometimes I see purple, orange and red. My colours are always true to my country.”
Selma’s work is deeply tied to memory and the landscape.
“No work is the same — each piece is unique in its own right. I usually try and remember the landscape and the way the colours change in different times of the day — sometimes I see purple, orange and red. My colours are always true to my country.”
Selma’s practice continues the living tradition of the Hermannsburg School of Painting, founded by Albert Namatjira in the 1930s. Namatjira became one of Australia’s most celebrated artists and the first Aboriginal person to be granted citizenship in 1957. His luminous watercolours of the Central Desert redefined how Australians saw their landscape, paving the way for generations of Arrernte and Western Aranda artists.
As noted by Art Ark, “Namatjira’s influence is profound — his legacy endures through the many artists who followed in his footsteps, each adding their own voice and vision to the story of their Country.”
Selma carries this lineage forward through her own distinct perspective, painting the landscapes she knows intimately, the colours of dawn and dusk, the living texture of desert light. Her Postage Stamp artwork reflects this deep tradition—inspired by Albert Namatjira’s commemoration on postage stamps – first a portrait in 1968, then a series of his artworks in 1993 and 2002.
This collaboration with Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre is a celebration of that living history.
We’re honoured to bring Selma’s work to life across clothing and bags. Each carrying the beauty of her work and the spirit of connection.
About Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre:Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) is a not-for-profit art centre, proudly Aboriginal owned and directed. Home of the Namatjira watercolour artists, the Centre was established by the Ngurratjuta/Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation in 2004 and incorporated as a separate entity in 2016. The Centre is dedicated to supporting the economic participation of Aboriginal people and preserving their cultural practices through art.
Journal Resources:
manyhandsart.com.au
artark.com.au/pages/albert-namatjira
Photography: Stephanie Cammarano for Nancybird
