Bella Kelly b. 14 January 1915

Also known as Isobel Kelly, Isobel Colbung
  • Artist (Draughtsman),
  • Artist (Painter)
Noongar Aboriginal landscape artist from Mount Barker who is strongly associated with the Carrolup school of artists. Well remembered and respected in the southwest, Great Southern and South Coast regions of Western Australia.
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associate of
Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Waterford, WA
Other occupation

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References [<ExternalResource: Krakouer, Laurence (2009), 'Verbal Correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Hansen, Philip (2009), 'Verbal correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Winmar, Alta (1991), ''Belly Kelly' in Nyungar Art from the South-West Region of Western Australia', Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Waterford, WA, See pp 12-13.>, <ExternalResource: 'The Nyoongar people of South Western Australia' (March 2003), Online WA Multicultural Communities Gateway, volume 4, issue 1, March 2003, Accessed 21/4/09.>, <ExternalResource: Lawrence, Carmen (1991), 'Speech Notes by Carmen Lawrence, opening of exhibition of works by Bella Kelly, Alma Toomath and Michelle Broun, 12 April 1991', Espace@Curtin - Curtin's Research Repository, Accessed 21/4/09.>, <ExternalResource: Narkle, Geoffrey & Milroy, David (2007), 'King Hit', Currency Press Pty Ltd, Strawberry Hills, NSW, [first written in 1997].>, <ExternalResource: Stanton, John E. & Hill, Sandra (2000), 'Aboriginal Artists of the South-West: Past and Present', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Croft, Brenda & Gooding, Janda (2003), 'South West Central: Indigenous Art from south Western Australia 1833-2002', Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Stanton, John E. (1992), 'Nyungar Landscapes - Aboriginal artists of the South-West: the heritage of Carrolup, Western Australia', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Pushman, T & Walley, R. S (2006), 'Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago)', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: (1967), 'Aboriginal artist gains reputation', The Albany Advertiser, Monday, March 6, 1967, p. 3.>] [<ExternalResource: Krakouer, Laurence (2009), 'Verbal Correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Hansen, Philip (2009), 'Verbal correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Hansen, Philip (2009), 'Verbal correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Hansen, Philip (2009), 'Verbal correspondence with the author'.>, <ExternalResource: Winmar, Alta (1991), ''Belly Kelly' in Nyungar Art from the South-West Region of Western Australia', Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Waterford, WA, See pp 12-13.>, <ExternalResource: 'The Nyoongar people of South Western Australia' (March 2003), Online WA Multicultural Communities Gateway, volume 4, issue 1, March 2003, Accessed 21/4/09.>, <ExternalResource: Lawrence, Carmen (1991), 'Speech Notes by Carmen Lawrence, opening of exhibition of works by Bella Kelly, Alma Toomath and Michelle Broun, 12 April 1991', Espace@Curtin - Curtin's Research Repository, Accessed 21/4/09.>, <ExternalResource: Narkle, Geoffrey & Milroy, David (2007), 'King Hit', Currency Press Pty Ltd, Strawberry Hills, NSW, [first written in 1997].>, <ExternalResource: Stanton, John E. & Hill, Sandra (2000), 'Aboriginal Artists of the South-West: Past and Present', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Croft, Brenda & Gooding, Janda (2003), 'South West Central: Indigenous Art from south Western Australia 1833-2002', Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Stanton, John E. (1992), 'Nyungar Landscapes - Aboriginal artists of the South-West: the heritage of Carrolup, Western Australia', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: Pushman, T & Walley, R. S (2006), 'Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago)', Berndt Museum of Anthropology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.>, <ExternalResource: (1967), 'Aboriginal artist gains reputation', The Albany Advertiser, Monday, March 6, 1967, p. 3.>]
Alternative names
  • Isobel Kelly
  • Isobel Colbung
  • Isobel Kelly
  • Isobel Colbung
Related people
  • Kelly, Goldie (parent of)
  • Narkle, Geoffrey (parent of)
  • Narkle, Caroline (parent of)
  • Kelly, Greg (parent of)
  • Kelly, Simpson (parent of)
  • Narkle, Largie (spouse of)
  • Kelly, Henry (spouse of)
  • Narkle, Cheryl (parent of)
  • Kelly, Lorrice (parent of)
  • Brockman, Mina Bayla (child of)
  • Narkle, Jerry (grandparent of)
  • Colbung, Billy (child of)
  • Kelly, Goldie (parent of)
  • Narkle, Geoffrey (parent of)
  • Narkle, Caroline (parent of)
  • Kelly, Greg (parent of)
  • Kelly, Simpson (parent of)
  • Narkle, Largie (spouse of)
  • Kelly, Henry (spouse of)
  • Narkle, Cheryl (parent of)
  • Kelly, Lorrice (parent of)
  • Brockman, Mina Bayla (child of)
  • Narkle, Jerry (grandparent of)
  • Colbung, Billy (child of)
Related person groups
  • Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Waterford, WA (associate of)
  • Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation, Waterford, WA (associate of)
Related works
  • Stirling Ranges (creator of)
  • Dawn Landscape (creator of)
  • Landscape (creator of)
  • Bush Landscape (creator of)
  • Untitled (Southwest landscape) (creator of)
  • Stirling Ranges (creator of)
  • Dawn Landscape (creator of)
  • Landscape (creator of)
  • Bush Landscape (creator of)
  • Untitled (Southwest landscape) (creator of)
Related collections
  • Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia , Perth, WA (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA (collected in)
  • Berndt Museum, University of Western Australia , Perth, WA (collected in)
  • Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA (collected in)
Related recognitions
  • 1988 NAIDOC Aboriginal Artist of the Year (received)
  • 1988 NAIDOC Aboriginal Artist of the Year (received)
Related events
  • The Legacy of Koorah Coolingah (The Legend of Children Long Ago) (None)
  • Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago) (exhibited at)
  • South West Central: Indigenous art from south Western Australia 1833-2002 (None)
  • Aboriginal artists of the south-west: past and present (None)
  • Nyungar Landscapes - Aboriginal artists of the South-West: the heritage of Carrolup (None)
  • Bella Kelly, Alma Toomath & Michelle Broun (None)
  • Untitled Event (exhibited at)
  • Untitled Event (exhibited at)
  • The Legacy of Koorah Coolingah (The Legend of Children Long Ago) (None)
  • Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago) (exhibited at)
  • South West Central: Indigenous art from south Western Australia 1833-2002 (None)
  • Aboriginal artists of the south-west: past and present (None)
  • Nyungar Landscapes - Aboriginal artists of the South-West: the heritage of Carrolup (None)
  • Bella Kelly, Alma Toomath & Michelle Broun (None)
  • Untitled Event (exhibited at)
  • Untitled Event (exhibited at)
Indigenous notes