Pantjiti Mary McLean facts for kids

Pantjiti Mary McLean (born around 1930 in Kaltukatjara, Australia) is a talented Ngaatjatjarra Aboriginal Australian artist. She is known for her unique paintings that tell stories about her life and culture.

Early Life and Journeys

Pantjiti Mary McLean was born around 1930 in a place called Kaltukatjara, near Docker River in Western Australia. She met her husband, Mr. Bates, in Blackstone. In the 1950s, she walked with her husband and son from the Western Desert to the Warburton Ranges. They then moved to Cosmo Newbury in the Eastern Goldfields.

During this time, her children attended mission schools, where they were raised and educated by missionaries. While her children were at the mission, Mary McLean worked on a sheep station. She chose to be a station hand, helping to gather the sheep.

In the 1970s, Mary McLean moved to the Native Reserve in Kalgoorlie. Later, in the 1980s, she moved to the Ninga Mia Community in Kalgoorlie, where she lived until 2008. Today, she lives in an aged care home in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Her Artistic Journey

Mary McLean started creating art in the 1980s. She made traditional craftworks and paintings. In 1992, she took part in a project called Warta Kutju (Wama Wanti) Street Art. This is where she met Nalda Searles, an artist who works with fibres. From 1992 onwards, Mary McLean's paintings began to be shown in many places.

In 1993, she painted a very famous work called Hunting grounds. This painting shows many things from her homeland. It includes ripe quandong fruit, the ripples on waterholes, and goannas scampering. It also captures the happiness and songs of her people. That same year, an exhibition of her art in Fremantle sold out completely, which helped launch her career.

Throughout the 1990s, she worked with Nalda Searles on different art projects. During this time, she developed her own special painting style. In 1995, Mary McLean received a very important award called the Telstra Indigenous Award.

In 2001, she was given an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the Curtin University of Technology in Perth. This was a big honor for her achievements. In 2005, a book was published about her art. It was called Pantjiti Mary McLean: A Big Story: Paintings and Drawings 1992–2005. Her paintings are now held in many major public and private art collections across Australia.

Exhibitions and Collections

Mary McLean's artwork has been shown in many exhibitions. These include shows at the Fremantle Arts Centre, the MAGNT in Darwin, and even in London, UK. Her art has traveled widely, allowing many people to see her unique style and stories.

Her paintings are also part of important art collections. These include the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. This means her work is preserved and celebrated for future generations to enjoy.