Lorna Ward Napanangka

Lorna Ward Napanangka was born at Papunya in the early 1960s and is the daughter of famous artist, Timmy Payungka Tjapangardi, one of the first generation Papunya Tula artists, and Margaret Nampitjinpa, originally from the Umari area. Lorna began painting when she was living at Kintore in 1996 and she often paints the site of Marrapinti. Lorna can be a law unto herself, having something of her father’s fierce assertiveness about her.

In 1999 Lorna Ward Napanangka contributed to the collaborative artwork, the Kiwirrkura Women’s painting, as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal. Her first husband was Leo Tjupurrula and after his death she married Billy Ward Tjupurrula, a well known Aboriginal artist in his own right until his death in 2001. They moved between the communities at Kintore and Kiwirrkurra, spending more time at the latter where they had family.

Lorna Ward Napanangka employs a variety of styles in her artwork and moves freely between them as she paints her canvases. Her fine and rhythmic work evokes styles as diverse as the severe Western Desert formalism of Anatjari Tjakamarra and the finely gridded patterns of the Tiwi islands. Her technique of fine dotting in white onto a plain black or brown background has been a strong influence on other Pintupi women painters. This enormous versatility and collectability is recognised by collectors worldwide.

Lorna Ward Napanangka has been exhibiting her work since 2000 in Australia and overseas, with solo shows in 2001 and 2004. She was a finalist in the 2002 NATSIAA, one of the most prestigious Australian art prizes. Lorna had four sons and two daughters: Francis, Dinny, Renee, Noel,Maureen and Caroline. Dinny Ward Tjakamarra and Caroline Nakamarra began painting for Papunya Tula in 2003. Aboriginal art status – Highly regarded artist.

Selected exhibitions

2001   Pintupi, Alice Springs NT
2001   Solo exhibition, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne VIC
2002   Glen Eira City Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2003   Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC
2004   Solo exhibition, Utopia Art Sydney, NSW
2006   Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2010   Chapman Galleries, Canberra ACT
2014   Desert Song, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle WA
2015   Sixteen Artists – 16 x 2, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle WA

Selected collections

Artbank, Sydney NSW
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney NSW
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide SA
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ACT