‘It is a good feeling doing my birds and echidnas. I like going home at the end of the day and telling everyone what I have been doing, tell them stories from my day'.

Dulcie Sharpe’s world is boldly colourful and full of joy.

Working across soft sculpture, textiles and painting, Dulcie’s playful figurations brim with densely layered colour, pattern and personality. Her works often portray her favourite animals: Tjulpu (birds) and Tjilkamata (echidnas).

Dulcie’s distinctive style translates seamlessly from fabric to painting on paper. Her delicate touch is reminiscent of the meticulous punching and stitching of her textile sculptures, with each mark methodically layered and highly considered. The intricate patterns of her Tjulpu and Tjilkamata are rendered with such detail that it is as though she were putting needle and thread to paper.

Her love of making is strengthened by being among her tight-knit community at the Art Centre at Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, Mparntwe, where she has been instrumental in fostering a safe and communal space for peop  le to gather, create and keep culture strong through art.

Ngayulu Tjulpu Tjuta munu Tjilkamata Tjuta Palyantjaku Mukuringanyi (I Love Making Birds and Echidnas) is a declaration of joy from Dulcie herself. Her work is imbued with the happiness she finds in making—a happiness that, in turn, she shares with us.

About the artist: 

‘I like sewing birds and porcupine (echidna). I like birds the most. I sew after work, on the weekends and even in hospital. I think too much (a lot) about what sewing to do and what colours for each bird.

I love coming to the Art Centre and doing my birds and echidnas, seeing my family and seeing other people that come to the Art Centre because they know I am here everyday so they can find me here. It’s too boring sitting at home when all the kids have gone to school, so it’s good to come here.

I have been coming to the Learning Centre for 15 years. I did painting, pottery, printing and now I sew. We learnt everything here. Sewing and dying and print making. Now we have this really good building.

I was born at Hamilton Downs. My father and mother been leave me to stay with my sister Trudy. Then we came back to Jay Creek for school. Everyday after school we used to go swimming at Jay Creek. My grandmother taught me everything about culture; how to find honey ants, bush tucker, dancing, language. This made me strong.’

Dulcie Sharpe is an acclaimed artist working across textiles, sculpture and painting and living and working at Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, Mparntwe NT.

Dulcie Sharpe’s work is held in numerous significant public collections across Australia, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, and Flinders University City Gallery.