Contemporary Art

                Purago Marabe 
                                                                                     is a self-taught artist and poet from the Okapa district of the Eastern Highland Province, Papua New Guinea.

                His poetry was first published in 1994 in Lost in the Jungleways, named for one of his poems. This anthology of young PNG writers is being used as curriculum material taught throughout PNG.

Currently Purago resides in his natal village of Moke, and recently assisted his community in establishing the Pindogori Cooperative Society, of which he is the inaugural Chairman. An avid tree planter, promoter of sustainable development and collector of seeds, stories and songs; Purago is recognised as a leader in his community and a role model through his willingness to explore and share the unknown with his associates.

                  His paintings were exhibited at the 2002 and 2003 Independence Anniversary celebrations in Port Moresby and Lae. He has sold paintings to the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has sold to customers from Australia, Italy and Germany.

           Purago Marabe has just completed a Jolika Fellowship, Artist in Residency program at the de Young Museum, San Francisco. He shared the Kimball Education Gallery / Artist Studio with fellow Papua New Guinean artist, Martin Morububuna and the public.

Highlights of his visit include a Floor Talk on 16th October when Purago treated the visitors to a stunning slide show and cultural tour of his homeland along with pieces of his latest artwork.