Ningura Naparulla

Early Life and Cultural Roots

Ningura Naparulla was born around 1938 at Watulka, south of the modern Kiwirrkurra community in the Western Desert of Australia. She was part of the Pintupi language group.

Her early years were spent living traditionally on Country. In 1962, she made her first journey out of the desert, travelling with her son to Papunya seeking medical care. She later accompanied her husband, the renowned Pintupi artist Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi, when their family settled in communities such as Papunya and later Kintore.

Entry into Painting & Artistic Development

Although exposed to art earlier through her husband and the Papunya painting movement, Ningura began painting independently in the mid-1990s. In 1995, she joined the women’s painting project at Kintore and Haasts Bluff, then became a formal member of Papunya Tula Artists in 1996. Her talent and distinct style quickly gained recognition.

Style & Themes

Ningura’s works often depict the mythological journeys of her female ancestors, sacred rockhole sites such as Wirrulnga and Palturunya, and women’s ceremonial life. Her paintings celebrate themes of birth, women’s law, and the gathering of bush foods.

Her art is known for strong linear designs, dense dotting, concentric circles for rockholes, arcs for rocky outcrops, and “U” shapes for women’s camps. She often worked with a restrained but powerful palette of black, white, red, and ochre, applying heavy layers of acrylic for depth and texture.

Recognition & Major Works

One of her most celebrated achievements was the commission to decorate the walls and ceilings of the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris in 2006, where her designs were scaled up to monumental size.

Her work appeared on an Australian postage stamp and featured in national art prizes. Her paintings are held in major collections across Aboriginal Art Gallery in Australia and internationally.

Later Years and Legacy

In her later years, Ningura focused more closely on works inspired by the rockhole site Wirrulnga. She continued to paint until her health declined, passing away on 11 November 2013 from kidney disease.

Ningura Naparulla was one of the first generation of Pintupi women artists to establish themselves as major figures in the Papunya Tula movement. She played a vital role in bringing women’s stories and Dreamings onto large canvases, helping transform Aboriginal art into a broader, more inclusive practice.

Her work bridged ancient cultural authority with striking modern visual expression. Today, her art is celebrated worldwide, both for its aesthetic power and its preservation of women’s law, ceremony, and Country.

Ningura Naparulla’s life and art show how tradition and innovation can merge to create something lasting and powerful. Through her unique vision, she gave voice to women’s ancestral stories and landscapes, ensuring they are recognised and respected globally. Her work remains a testament to cultural strength, creative brilliance, and the enduring spirit of the Western Desert.

Honouring Ningura Naparulla’s Legacy

Honour Ningura Naparulla’s legacy with Mandel Aboriginal Art Gallery. Support Indigenous artists with us, helping culture and community continue to thrive. Learn the stories behind the Dreamings Ningura has painted—stories of women’s journeys, sacred rockholes, and Country, and share them widely so that her voice and vision remain alive for future generations.

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