Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa

DOB: c.1935 - 2013
BORN: Yumara, WA
LANGUAGE GROUP: Pintupi
COMMUNITY: Papunya, NT

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Nyruapayia Nampitjinpa (aka Mrs Bennett) painted her mother's Dreamings, which are connected to sites at Yumarra, Wantjunga and Tjalilli rock holes near Papunya, Pukara, Ngalkinginga and Munkara rock holes. The depictions of the sand-dune country and surrounding rocky outcrops bear a relationship to the designs used for body painting during the inma ceremonial dance. Deeply concerned with women's culture, her designs often depict women's ceremonies and rituals. The gathering of bush tucker such as Kampurarrpa (desert raisin) and quandong are also central themes.
Mrs Bennett favoured strong contrasts, using blacks and pale yellows/creams set in relief against, often, a red ground. Her acclaimed work is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the National Gallery of Victoria, Artbank and in corporate and private collections internationally.

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Nyruapayia passed away in 2013