Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu facts for kids

Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu (c.1935–2005) was an important Yolngu artist. She was also a respected elder in her community. Nancy lived in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia.

She worked at the Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre in Yirrkala. Her art is still kept there today. Nancy is known for her unique art style. She created beautiful bark paintings and prints.

Nancy Yunupingu's Life and Family

Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu was born around 1935. Her father was Mungurrawuy. She had many siblings. Her brothers included the famous musician Galarrwuy Yunupingu and land rights leader Mandawuy Yunupingu. Her sisters, Gulumbu Yunupingu and Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, were also talented artists.

Her mother, Bakili, was an artist too. She was also a respected elder from the Galpu clan. Nancy belonged to the Yirritja group. Her family clans were Gumatj and Rrakpala. These are important parts of her Yolngu identity. Her traditional homeland was called Biranybirany. Nancy passed away in 2005.

Artistic Style and Practice

Nancy Yunupingu was very good at graphic arts. She also made bark paintings using natural ochre colours. She was skilled at weaving and creating wooden carvings. Nancy also used printmaking methods. These included etching and screenprinting.

A special animal often appeared in her artwork. This was the Wan'kurra, or golden bandicoot. The golden bandicoot is important in Gumatj ceremonies and song-cycles. Nancy often showed the bandicoot running through scrubland in her art.

Artworks, Exhibitions, and Recognition

Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu's art was shown in many places. She also received special requests for her work.

• 1992 and 1995: She had two solo art shows. These were at the Australian Girls Own Gallery (aGOG) in Canberra.
• 1995: Nancy was an artist-in-residence at Wollongong University. While there, she created a series of linocut prints.
• 1997: Her artwork was chosen for the Fremantle Print Awards in Western Australia.
• 1999: A company called Nabalco asked her to create a picture for their Christmas card.
• 1999: She was asked to paint large murals. These murals were for the Aboriginal Hostel in Nhulunbuy. She also painted for the Gove Industrial Supplies building. Another mural was for the children's ward at Nhulunbuy Hospital.
• 1999: Nancy and her sister Gulumbu Yunupingu worked with Dhuwarrwarr Marika. They painted large film sets for the movie Yolngu Boy. These paintings were copies of the famous Yirrkala Church Panels. Yolngu elders created the original panels in 1963.
• 2001: Her work was part of an exhibition called Vital Fluids. This show included art from many artists. It was held at the Helen Maxwell Gallery.
• 2003: Nancy's art was featured in Groundswell: An exhibition of Aboriginal art. This was another multi-artist exhibition at the Helen Maxwell Gallery.
• December 2021 – April 2022: Her work was in Bark Ladies: Eleven Artists from Yirrkala. This exhibition was at the National Gallery of Victoria. It featured bark paintings and larrakitj (burial poles).

Art Collections

Nancy Yunupingu's art is held in major collections across Australia. This means her work is kept in important museums and galleries.

• The National Gallery of Victoria has her piece Bäru story (1990). It is painted with earth pigments on stringybark.
• Her work is also at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
• The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra also holds her art.
• You can find her work at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
• Museums Victoria in Melbourne has pieces by Nancy.
• The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin also has her art.
• Charles Darwin University's CDU Art Collection has two etchings and four screenprints by Nancy.