Jorna Newberry & Maisie Campbell Napaltjarri

This exhibition features two women artists who both began painting in the 1990s after working closely with senior male artists within their family group. Maisie Campbell Napaltjarri assisted her Pintupi elder husband Barney Campbell Tjakamarra (1928- 2007), before setting out on her own career.  Maisie has often painted her own father’s country at Warmarrungle near Kaarku. However the major themes represented in Maisie’s work are the important women’s ceremonies that take place in the Western Desert between Kintore in the Northern Territory and Kiwirrkurra in Western Australia.

Pitjantjatjara artist Jorna Newberry, the niece of famous Western desert painter Tommy Watson, began her painting in mid 1990s at Warakurna, and later moved to Irunytju. Over recent years Jorna has worked closely alongside her legendary uncle, Tommy Watson. She follows his instruction to use abstraction as a stylistic means to ensure secrecy of important cultural matters, rather than taking a more figurative approach. Jorna says: ‘Tommy has had a big influence on me. He teaches me to be respectful in the way I paint’.

Jorna paints Tjukurpa passed down to her through her family lineage, and keeps the Tjukurpa stories alive through her artwork. Jorna’s stories include Walpa Tjukurpa (Wind Dreaming), Pukura Tjukurpa (Water Snake Dreaming), Kungkarangkalpa Tjukurpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) and stories under the title My Country, where she maps the country of Warakuna and Irruntju and the sites where important women’s traditional ceremonies are held.

Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links

Jorna Newberry

Maisie Campbell