Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi
|
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Born | 1967 (age 57–58) |
Nationality | Australian |
Known for | Painting |
Movement | contemporary Indigenous Australian art |
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi was born in 1967 in Papunya, Australia. She is a famous Indigenous Australian artist. Gabriella followed in the footsteps of her father, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, who was also a respected painter.
Her artworks are displayed in many art galleries around the world. You can find her paintings in places like the National Gallery of Australia and the Royal Collection in the United Kingdom.
Early Life and Family
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi is the oldest daughter of Indigenous Australian artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. She was born in 1967 in a community called Papunya. This area is about 2.4 kilometers northwest of Alice Springs.
Her family's language is Anmatyerre. Gabriella spent her early years in Alice Springs. She started painting with her father when she was very young.
Artistic Career
Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi has achieved many things in her art career. In 1985, when she was just 16 years old, she won the Alice Springs Art Award.
Throughout her life, Gabriella has shown her artwork in Australia and other countries. In 1991, she received a special grant to help her develop her unique painting style. Her art often features dotted landscapes and images of bush foods. These are important parts of her people's culture.
As Indigenous Australian art became more recognized, Gabriella's talent was noticed worldwide. In 2006, she was one of 33 artists featured in a big art show. This show, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in the US, was the first major display of art by Indigenous Australian women. In 2010, Gabriella also showed her work in Munich, Germany.
In 2008, her art reached an even wider audience. A famous gardener, Jamie Durie, won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. When Queen Elizabeth presented him with the award, she also received an original painting by Gabriella. This artwork now hangs in the royal collection, alongside a piece by her father.
In 2014, Gabriella's art was used to decorate a tram for the Melbourne festival. This was part of a large public art project called Melbourne Art Trams.
In 2016, her work was chosen for Vivid Sydney. Her images were projected onto the Sydney Opera House. She was one of six Indigenous artists whose art lit up this famous building.
Gabriella's sister, Michelle Possum Nungurrayi, is also a well-known artist. They even had a joint exhibition in Perth in 2017.
Personal Life
Since the early 2000s, Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi has lived near Melbourne with her family. She received money from the sale of her father's famous painting, "Warlugulong". This was an important moment because it showed how new rules helped Indigenous artists get fair payment for their creations.
Gabriella's son, Danny Ramzan, is a member of the Australian hip hop group Yung Warriors.