Lillian Nakamarra b. Coniston, NT

  • Artist (Painter)
Warlpiri/Anmatyerre artist who lives in Willowra (NT). Her work has been an important aid to land right claims in her heritage country and reflects her strong cultural involvement.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1994
Name
Lillian Nakamarra
Birth date
Birth place
Coniston, NT
Gender
Female
Roles
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • Willowra
Active Period
  • c.1987-
Languages
  • English
Is Indigenous
Yes
Heritage Country
  • Yurrkuru (Brook's Soakage) (Brookes Soak)
Dreaming
  • Karnta
  • Bandicoot
Initial Record Data Source
  • Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert: A Biographical Dictionary

Born at Coniston of the Warlpiri/Anmatyerre tribe, her country is Yurrkuru (Brook’s Soakage). She paints Bandicoot and Karnta (Women’s) Dreamings and began doing paintings when canvas and board became available in Willowra at the end of the ’80s. She states that she does her paintings with her own Dreaming, not wanting others to get involved, and emphasises the connection of these designs with land rights claims in which she has been actively involved: 'I do all the dreaming about my country. When we had a Land Claim meeting, I got painted up with my design and showed how the Bandicoot dreaming is. I did the dancing at Brookes when we had a Land Claim meeting when the judge came over to have a look.’

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011
Citations: