Norah Nelson Napaljarri facts for kids

Norah Nelson Napaljarri (born 26 October 1956) is an Aboriginal artist from Australia. She speaks the Warlpiri language and comes from the Western Desert area. Norah Nelson started painting in 1986. Her art has been shown in Australia and other countries. Important places like the National Gallery of Victoria own her paintings and pottery.

Life Story

Haasts Bluff, where Norah Nelson was born.

Norah Nelson was born on October 26, 1956. Her birthplace was Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory, which is north-west of Alice Springs. She married an artist named Jakamarra Frank 'Bronson' Nelson. He passed away before 1994.

In central Australia, Indigenous people use special names called 'skin names'. 'Napaljarri' is a Warlpiri skin name. These names are part of a system that helps people understand family connections. They also show who people can marry. Skin names can be used when talking to someone. But they are not like surnames (family names) that Europeans use. So, 'Norah Nelson' is the part of her name that is just for her.

Her Art

How Western Desert Art Began

Modern Indigenous art from the Western Desert started in 1971. This happened when Indigenous men in Papunya began to paint. A teacher named Geoffrey Bardon helped them. They used acrylic paints to create designs. These designs were like the body paintings and ground sculptures used in their culture.

This new art style quickly spread across Indigenous communities. By the 1980s and 1990s, this art was shown all over the world. At first, only men were painting. Some men in central Australia did not want women to paint. However, many women wanted to create art too. In the 1990s, a large number of women started painting. In places like Kintore, Yuendumu, and Balgo, people began making art specifically to sell and show.

Norah's Art Career

Norah first painted in 1986. She helped her husband with his art. By 1987, she was creating her own artworks. In 2004, she was living in Yuendumu. She painted for the Indigenous art center there, called Warlukurlangu Artists.

Artists from the Western Desert, like Norah, often paint special stories. These stories are called 'dreamings'. Each artist has a personal connection or right to paint certain dreamings. Norah has painted stories like Karntjarra (Two Women). She has also painted Ngaru (bush plum) and Ngarlkirdi (witchetty grub) dreamings. Another one is Pangkurlangu (Giant) dreamings.

Norah has also created paintings based on the Yiwarra (Milky Way) dreaming. She had permission from the senior person in charge of that dreaming. One of her Milky Way paintings was chosen for a mosaic. This mosaic is at the new court building for the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.

Norah's art has been shown in galleries in Australia and other countries. These include Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi in Melbourne. Her work was also shown at the Lowe Art Museum in the United States. The National Gallery of Victoria in Australia has also shown her art. Her paintings are part of several important Australian collections. These include the private Holmes à Court collection. Her art is also in the public collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Art Collections

• Holmes à Court collection
• National Gallery of Victoria
• Supreme Court of the Northern Territory