Elsie Napanangka Granites Paintings

Elsie Napanangka Granites was born in 1959 at Yuendumu, one of the larger desert Aboriginal communities on the Tanami Road, north-west of Alice Springs. Elsie’s traditional Country is Jayinki, which forms a major part of the identity and cultural content of her paintings. Elsie worked in many Warlpiri community organisations in Yuendumu, including the Women’s Centre, Women’s Night Patrol, the Old People’s Program and the Art Centre.

Elsie Napanangka Granites began painting in 1987 at Yuendumu and has refined the Dreaming stories that she paints over her career of nearly three decades. The main Jukurrpa or Creation stories that Elsie paints include Mina Mina Jukurrpa and Karnta Jukurrpa, the central Women’s Dreaming stories from this Warlpiri region in the Tanami Desert. Elsie Napanangka Granites also paints Honey Ant Dreaming – Yarrumpi Jukurrpa, and Snake Vine Dreaming – Ngalyipi Jukurrpa.

Elsie Napanangka Granites has three children and many grandchildren. Elsie takes an active role in their lives and ensures the Dreaming stories which she has inherited are passed on to her grandchildren. The importance of culture and identity remains strong in her family. Elsie Granites Napanangka has exhibited at Japingka Gallery in community exhibitions since 2008.