Glen Namundja hails from an important lineage of unique and talented artists. Glen’s earliest artistic influences came from his father, the great artist Peter Marralwanga. Peter had three wives and nine children, including the renowned artists Samuel Namundja, Ivan Namirrkki and Johnson Namundja.

As young men, Glen and Samuel grew up on the outstation of Markolidjban, where they learnt to paint under the tutelage of their father. Marralwanga taught the young men the important creation stories of the Kunwinjku, and how to depict them in the exquisite cross-hatching or rarrk of the Mardayin ceremony. This shimmering rarrk has become a defining feature of both Samuel and Glen Namundja’s work.

Glen lives and works at Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) and has painted at Injalak Arts and Crafts since its foundation in 1989. Glen has remained a faithful practitioner of the narrative/figurative style synonymous with the region’s rock art heritage. In recent years, he has proven himself to be one of the finest innovators of this style, through works that demonstrate a complex synthesis of figurative and abstract elements.

As Injalak's Arts and Cultural Officer Rebecca Say notes, The figurative element is essential to his work, the complexity of his compositions a key characteristic. Now however, he is choosing to infill the entire background of his works with rarrk. Animals and figures swim on the shimmering surface of the image, challenging the eye to follow the flow of figures and read the story within. It is a beautiful and effective merging of stylistic traits. The figurative element that engages and captures the imagination of the viewer remains crucial to the image.

In 2007, Glen was highly commended in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. His works have been exhibited to acclaim throughout Australia, as well as in Italy and the Netherlands. Lineage in Linear will be Glen’s first solo exhibition.