Ngarra facts for kids
Ngarra (born around 1920, died 2008) was an amazing Aboriginal Australian artist. He belonged to the Andinyin and Gija peoples. Ngarra was famous for his paintings. These artworks showed his home areas in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. They also told stories from his ancestors and from the time when Europeans first arrived. Many Aboriginal people respected Ngarra. He knew a lot about traditional Aboriginal ceremonial practices. He learned these important practices from his grandparents, Muelbyne and Larlgarlbyne. They lived a traveling life in the remote Mornington Range.
Ngarra's Early Life
Ngarra was born in 1920. This happened at Glenroy Station in Western Australia. He became an orphan. Ngarra left the station. He went to live with his grandparents, Muebyne and Larlgarbyne.
His Artistic Career
Ngarra started painting in 1994. An anthropologist named Kevin Shaw helped him. Shaw also recorded information about Ngarra's artwork.
Ngarra's later paintings are very colorful. He used bright colors that stood out. He made his own special colors. He mixed different Ara acrylic paints together. Ngarra's paintings often show old Aboriginal traditions. His art was shown at the Western Australian Museum in 2000. Some of his works are kept in famous places. These include the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and Museum Victoria.
In 2015, sixteen of Ngarra's paintings were part of a big show. It was called No Boundaries: Aboriginal Australian Contemporary Abstract Painting. William Fox and Henry Skerritt organized this show. It started at the Nevada Museum of Art. Then it traveled to five other museums across the United States. Also in 2015, Ngarra was honored. This happened at the first Tarnanthi exhibition. It was held at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Where to See Ngarra's Art
You can find Ngarra's paintings in these art collections:
- Artbank
- Art Gallery of Western Australia
- Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia
- Edith Cowan University
- Museum Victoria
- Redland City Art Gallery
- Western Australian Museum
