In Vincent Namatjira's latest paintings, a character named King Dingo is all dressed up in royal regalia, and looking a little cheeky.
Could the artist, known for his satirical commentary on colonisation and power, be setting his sights on King Charles III?
"The royal family, it's not much to do with them at all," the Western Aranda artist said, explaining the new paintings are actually self-portraits.
"King Dingo, the uniform and costume and all that, represents me."
It's good to be King, and Namatjira is riding high with his second solo show at Ames Yavuz's Commonwealth St gallery in Sydney opening Saturday.
With a recent Thames and Hudson monograph, and his Australia In Colour exhibition touring to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the artist was already widely known.
But when Australia's richest woman, mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, demanded the National Gallery remove Namatjira's not-so-flattering portrait of her from the exhibition back in May, the issue received global coverage.
"To be honest, with this stuff that's going on in the media about whatever that Rinehart's talking about, she's making me more famous," the artist told AAP.
While the new paintings are a reflection on Namatjira's country and identity, the artist said there is no end to the supply of household names that could be the subject of one of his subversive portraits in future.
"Definitely, I will be painting Australian famous people," he promised.
The Ames Yavuz King Dingo exhibition displays eight new paintings as well as a video artwork.
Namatjira has also invited senior artists from his art centre in Indulkana, South Australia, the painting duo Alec Baker and Eric Barney, to present some of their new paintings as part of the show.
Alec Baker was one of the founding artists of Iwantja Arts in the 1980s, and at the age of 91, he did not make the trip to Sydney, but Eric Barney will be there for the opening.
"I just want to shine some light on them, and also want them to be more acknowledged and recognised, that's why I want them to be shown in this exhibition," said Namatjira.
Together the artists present two sides of Australia - King Dingo's modern take, and the traditional Indigenous cultural approach, he said.
In 2020 Namatjira became the first Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize with his portrait of former AFL player Adam Goodes.
Born in Alice Springs, Namatjira was raised in foster care in Perth from the age of six, which meant losing his connection to family, country and culture.
He grew up not knowing of his link to famed watercolourist Albert Namatjira - Vincent is his great-grandson - until he was an adult, and was astonished to discover his artistic legacy and the significance of his family name.
Namatjira agrees his paintings are enjoying growing success, and says it's something he's comfortable with.
"I'm more open, and I'm good to try anything new, that kind of thing - I'm always willing."
King Dingo runs from Saturday until October 5.
