Dolly Parton has never set foot on the red desert soil of Indulkana, a remote Aboriginal community in South Australia located about 400 kilometers south of Alice Springs. The country music icon likely doesn't even know this small outback town exists. Yet through the vibrant artwork of Kaylene Whiskey, Parton has become a frequent visitor to this desert community and serves as one of the acclaimed Indigenous artist's most beloved muses.
Whiskey's imaginative paintings regularly feature Parton alongside other pop culture icons including Cher, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Turner, and superheroes like Wonder Woman and Supergirl. With remarkable playfulness and humor, this celebrated contemporary First Nations artist masterfully weaves together elements of mainstream pop culture with traditional Aṉangu culture, creating works that celebrate sisterhood and honor strong women from all walks of life.
A major survey exhibition titled "Super Kaylene Whiskey" opened this weekend at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, showcasing the breadth and depth of the artist's remarkable career. The comprehensive collection features more than 80 artworks spanning a decade of artistic practice, carefully sourced from private collections and institutional holdings across Australia. Exhibition curator April Phillips praised the artist's unique vision, stating, "Kaylene Whiskey, there's no one else like her in the universe."
National Portrait Gallery Director Bree Pickering emphasized how Whiskey's work creates collective joy and meaningful connections across cultural boundaries. "Dolly Parton, Cher and Wonder Woman are presented as powerful equals, among other strong women from her community of Indulkana, including Kaylene herself," Pickering explained. "What is important and absolutely remarkable about the group portraits that Kaylene paints is there is no compositional hierarchy. No one figure is more important than any other."
Among the exhibition's highlights is a specially commissioned three-panel painting depicting Olympic champion Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which will be displayed publicly for the first time. Pickering noted the significance of this new work, saying, "Kaylene's extraordinary work shows us Cathy in a new light. Not weighed down by the expectations of a nation but powered by the energy, love and spirit of her sisters in Indulkana and beyond."
Whiskey's star continues to rise rapidly in the contemporary art world. She has been selected as an Archibald Prize finalist three times and won the prestigious 2018 Sulman Prize, establishing herself as one of Australia's most important emerging artists. Her unique artistic vision bridges traditional Indigenous storytelling with contemporary pop culture references in ways that resonate with audiences across diverse backgrounds.
The artist herself hopes the exhibition will bring happiness to visitors, describing the show as "like a big party celebrating kungka kuṉpu (strong women), friends, family, culture, and of course Dolly Parton." Whiskey's infectious enthusiasm for her work is evident as she expresses her desire for the exhibition to make people laugh and smile while experiencing her art.
The "Super Kaylene Whiskey" exhibition will remain on display at the National Portrait Gallery until March 9, 2026, giving art lovers and cultural enthusiasts ample opportunity to experience this groundbreaking collection. Curator Phillips expressed excitement about Whiskey's future prospects in the art world, confidently stating, "It's just the beginning" when discussing what lies ahead for the talented artist's already impressive career.
