Five years after becoming the first Aboriginal artist to win the Archibald Prize, Western Aranda artist Vincent Namatjirahas returned as a finalist with a self-portrait centred on ten-pin bowling and life between home and the international art circuit; The Dust Bowl.

Born in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, Mr Namatjira paints through Iwantja Arts on the APY Lands in South Australia and has become one of Australia's most recognisable contemporary portrait artists, known for works that blend satire, politics and autobiography.

In 2020, he won the Archibald Prize for his portrait of former AFL player Adam Goodes.

His latest work turns inward, drawing on his love of ten-pin bowling as both a release and a way to navigate the pressures of exhibitions and public life.

"Knocking down bowling pins is a stress release for me," Mr Namatjira told the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

"I'm from a quiet little remote community, so when I'm travelling for exhibitions or projects, I sometimes get overwhelmed by new places, crowds, interviews, photo shoots, and all the rushing around.

"Whenever this happens, I try to hit the lanes and let off some steam."

Mr Namatjira said some of his earliest memories of bowling were at The Dust Bowl in Alice Springs.

"I've since bowled strikes all over Australia, and even picked up spares in New York, Paris, London, Amsterdam and Florence," he said.

"In this self-portrait, I'm back home on Country after conquering the globe as an unofficial Western Aranda international ten-pin bowling all-star.

"I brought back some international souvenirs for pins — bowling is rikina (terrific)!"