Artist Profile

Aboriginal artists Pauline Napangardi Gallagher

Pauline Napangardi Gallagher (deceased)

Pauline Napangardi Gallagher was born in 1952 in Yuendumu. She has five children, three sons and two daughters, and fifteen grandchildren.

Pauline’s country is Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), a sacred water hole located near Mount Doreen Station west of Yuendumu and approximately 350 km north-west of Alice Springs.

Pauline has been painting since 2006 with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. She paints her father’s stories – Pikilyi Jukurrpa [Pikilyi Dreaming] and Mina Mina Jukurrpa [Mina Mina Dreaming] - Dreamings that relate to her land, its features and animals. Pauline loves colour and uses an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional Aboriginal culture.

Aboriginal painting by Pauline Napangardi Gallagher - Lukarrara Jukurrpa [Desert Fringe-Rush Seed Dreaming]

Lukarrara Jukurrpa

This Jukurrpa [Dreaming] belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. It is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu.

Lukarrara [desert fringe-rush] is a grass with an edible seed. The seeds are traditionally ground on a large stone [ngatinyanu] with a smaller stone [ngalikirri] to make flour. This flour is mixed with water [ngapa] to make damper cakes which are cooked and eaten.

In Warlpiri traditional paintings iconography is used to represent the Jukurrpa, particular sites and other elements. Large concentric circles often represent the site of Jaralypari and also the seed-bearing grass Lukurrara. ‘U’ shapes can depict the Karnta [women] collecting ‘lukarrara’ and straight lines are frequently used to portray seeds that fall down to the ground and are also collected by women using their ‘parrajas’ [wooden food carriers] and ‘karlangu' [digging sticks]. This Jukurrpa [Dreaming] belongs to women of the Nakamarra/Napurrurla subsections and to Jakamarra/Jupurrurla men. It is associated with a place called Jaralypari, north of Yuendumu.

Warlukurlangu Artists

Warlukurlangu Artists is one of the longest running and most successful Aboriginal-owned art centres in Central Australia. Renowned for its gloriously colourful acrylic paintings and limited-edition prints, Warlukurlangu Artists have a national and international profile, and have been featured in exhibitions and publications in Australia and around the world. Established in 1985, Warlukurlangu Artist Aboriginal Corporation is a 100% Aboriginal-owned not-for-profit organisation, owned by its artist from the remote desert communities of Yuendumu and Nyirripi in Central Australia.

Warlukurlangu means ‘belonging to fire’ in the local language, Warlpiri, and is named for a fire dreaming site west of Yuendumu.

Visit the Warlukurlangu Artists website