Sammy Ungwanaka joined the Hermannsburg Potters in late 2023. He is the grandson of Hermannsburg Potters founder Nahasson Ungwanaka and renowned potter Rahel Ungwanaka, both of whom are now sadly deceased. Sammy brings a unique style, imagination and creative flair to his work with clay. His sculptures are lively, playful, and unmistakably his own—distinct from the work of anyone else at the art centre.
Sammy’s career as an artist has grown throughout 2025, exhibting in shows at Watch This Space Gallery in Alice Springs, The Jam Factory in Adelaide and Arthouse Galery in Sydney. This year he also worked on a collaborative installation with senior Hermannsburg Potters, which will be exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia in the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial: After the Rain in December. Sammy is currently working on an exciting collaboration with Hermannsburg Potter Abel Pareroultja and Dharug artist Billy Bain as well as his first solo exhibition in 2026.