May Napurrula b. 1941 Coniston, NT

  • Artist (Painter)
Warlpiri artist who grew up on her country in the region of Yurrnkuru. She later moved to Willowra (NT) and began painting in 1989.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1994
Name
May Napurrula
Birth date
c.1941
Birth place
Coniston, NT
Gender
Female
Roles
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • Yurrnkuru
  • Willowra, NT
Active Period
  • c.1989-
Languages
  • English
Is Indigenous
Yes
Heritage Country
  • Yurrnkuru
  • Coniston, NT
  • Kanakurlangu
Dreaming
  • Lukarrara, Mulga Seed
  • Wardiji, Mulga Seed
  • Witchetty Grub
  • Orphan Child
  • Snake
  • Frog
Initial Record Data Source
  • Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert: A Biographical Dictionary

Born at Coniston in the early ’40s. She grew up in the region of Yurrnkuru and shares with her older sister Molly Napurrula the country round Yurrnkuru, as well as Coniston and Kanakurlangu. She is a Warlpiri speaker and came to live in Willowra at the same time as her sister Molly. For the women’s dancing, May paints up with Wardiji and Lukarrara (Mulga Seed) designs. Her canvases depict Frog, Snake, Orphan Child and Witchetty Grub Dreamings. She began painting in 1989 at the same time as her sister Molly, with encouragement from the Willowra CDEP adviser.

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011
associate of
Molly Napurrula
1930
Artist (Painter)
sibling of
Molly Napurrula
1930
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Janet Nakamarra Long
1960
Artist (Painter)
relative of
Janet Nakamarra Long
1960
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Lucy Nampijinpa
1935
Artist (Painter)
Citations: