Mimili-based creative Robert Fielding has won the $100,000 Hadley's Art Prize, announced on Hobart on Friday, for his work titled Landscape.
The lucrative reward is equal to the amount received by the winner of the Archibald Prize but is for the most outstanding portrayal of the Australian landscape and is nowhere near as well known.
One of 27 finalists, Fielding declared his mission accomplished after starting a series inspired by wrecked vehicles a decade ago.
The 57-year-old artist is of Pakistani, Afghan, Western Arrernte and Yankunytjatjara descent.
His artworks have been shown internationally and collected by major Australian art institutions.
The winning painting represents a story about cars, country, elders, community, family and self, he told AAP.
"People that live in the city should have a bit of understanding, knowing that's a broken down car there but is it broken down?" he said.
"They had a flat tyre and people just went and took them and burnt them, smashed them but I went away and created into an artwork."
The painting deploys dot techniques used in traditional body painting and the scene is overlaid with words.
The Mimili community where Fielding works is part of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands near the border with the Northern Territory.
The road to the neighbouring community of Indulkana is scattered with car wrecks.
Fielding refers to them as "graveyards in between", each carrying a story of past owners.
In 1931 his father, Bruce Fielding, was taken from his family in Mimili to the town of Quorn at the age of three as part of the Stolen Generations.
Robert Fielding and his family returned to Mimili in 1998 and he began working at Mimili Maku Arts, which has produced renowned artists such as Betty Kuntiwa Pumani.
"My name might be on this award but this is nganampa, this is ours. This is belonging to family," he said.
"It has belonged to the elders but most of all it is belonging to Mimili community."
A $10,000 Residency Prize and $2000 Art Handlers Award went to West Australian artist Kelsey Ashe, ACT artist Alice Mannheim won a $1000 Packing Room Prize and Tasmanian year 10 student Hayin Yi was awarded the $500 Student Prize.
An exhibition of finalists is on show at Hadley's Orient Hotel in Hobart from Saturday until August 23.
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