Qantas Dreamliner Emily Kame Kngwarreye

In celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Australia, Qantas launched the latest aircraft in their Flying Art Series, Qantas Dreamliner Emily Kame Kngwarreye.


Qantas acknowledges the First Nations peoples of Australia as the continuing custodians and Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work.

From canvas to aircraft

This unique Qantas Dreamliner livery was inspired by 1991 artwork ‘Yam Dreaming’, painted by the late artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

The painting captures the essence of the yam plant, an important symbol in Emily’s Dreamtime story, and an important food source in her home region of Utopia, 230 kilometres north east of Alice Springs.

Yam Dreaming has been conceptualised by design studio, Balarinji, and for just the second time in our history, the iconic tail is included in the design, with our trademark red tail adapted to match the earthy red tones and white dotting technique of the original piece.

About the artist

A senior member of the Anmatyerre clan, ceremonial leader and a custodian of Dreaming sites in Alhalkere, Emily Kame Kngwarreye was introduced to art late in life through a government funded education program at Utopia, and in 1978 became a founding member of the Utopia Women’s Batik Group. Emily began painting on canvas in 1988 and over the next eight years quickly garnered attention for her remarkable body of work that embodied her deep spiritual and cultural connections to her country and community.

In 2008, the National Museum of Australia curated an expansive exhibition of Emily's work, featuring over 120 pieces. Visit the National Museum of AustraliaOpens external site in a new window to learn more.

The Qantas Flying Art Series

For more than 20 years Qantas has been proud to bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and stories to the world through our Flying Art Series. Since 1994, they've commissioned and displayed five striking Indigenous liveries on Boeing 747s, 737s and now a 787-9. Leading Indigenous-owned design agency, Balarinji, has developed all of the works in the series in collaboration with Aboriginal artists and their representatives.

Qantas Reconciliation Action Plan

As part of their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), Qantas is proud to promote Indigenous culture and opportunity. Learn more about the Qantas RAP.