Ruby Tjangawa Williamson facts for kids

Ruby Tjangawa Williamson was an important Aboriginal artist from Amaṯa in central Australia. She was a member of the Pitjantjatjara people. Ruby was known for her beautiful acrylic paintings and traditional wood carvings. Her artwork was very popular and received praise for its modern and unique style.

Ruby's paintings often told sacred stories from the Dreamtime. These stories are very important to her people and often teach lessons or morals from their traditional laws. While her art used the typical style of the Western Desert, she added her own modern touches. People often described her style as "experimental" because she was always trying new things.

Ruby's Early Life

Ruby was born around 1940 near a special place called Kata Ala in Western Australia. She grew up in the bushland with her family. They often traveled between her father's traditional land near Pukara and her mother's land near Mantamaru.

When Ruby was a teenager, her family moved to Ernabella. This was a Christian mission far to the east. Ruby went to school there and lived at the mission until she got married.

Family Life

Ruby married a stockman whose family came from what is now Amaṯa. After they got married, they moved north to Areyonga. Her husband worked on a cattle station there.

Later, they moved back to his homeland, where he worked on the Musgrave Park station. Ruby and her husband had five children together. Sadly, her husband passed away when he was in his early 40s.

Becoming an Artist

In 1999, the older women of Amaṯa, including Ruby, started an art center called Minymaku Arts. It is now known as Tjala Arts. Ruby began working there as an artist in 2000.

Her first solo art shows were in Hobart in 2003 and 2005. She also had a solo exhibition in Melbourne in 2008. Ruby's artwork has been shown in many major cities across Australia. Her art has also traveled overseas, appearing in group exhibitions in Singapore and the United States.

Where to See Her Art

Ruby Williamson's amazing artwork is kept in many important art galleries and museums. You can find her paintings in places like the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Queensland Art Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Ruby passed away in 2014, but her art continues to inspire many people.

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