Ada Andy Napaltjarri

Born

1954

Language

Luritja Warlpiri

(Biography courtesy of Affordable Aboriginal Art and AusAnthrop.)

Ada Andy Napltjarri was born at Narwietooma station in 1954, but soon moved with her family to Haasts Bluff where she grew up. She is a member of the Luritja/Walpri language group that emerged from the mix of dialects at that settlement.

Later the family moved again to the newly established settlement of Papunya. Her husband Alister, a schoolteacher, had a keen interest in the art movement and a conviction that women were being excluded from painting. He influenced Ada to paint independently of the Papunya Tula Artists.

In the early 1980's Ada started painting. She may have learnt to paint from watching or assisting male relatives. She paints Mother and Daughter dreaming also the Water and Woman's Dancing Dreaming from Ilpilli, as well as Bush Onion (Yalka) Dreaming.

Ada's work has been exibited at the Tandanya Centre in Adelaide, Australia, and at the Canterbury Gallery in Christchurch, New Zealand, and has numerous works in private collections throughout Australia and overseas.

[ paintings ]