ABORIGINAL DESERT ART  GALLERY

GLADYS WARANGKULA NAPANANGKA

Gladys was born at Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory in a creek bed.

ARTIST: GLADYS WARANKULA NAPANANGKA
BORN CA: 1920
GROUP: WARLPIRI/LURITJA
AREA: WESTERN DESERT

Gladys has strong links with the people of Haasts Bluff and therefore identifies with that community. Her family originally came from the country north of Mt Wedge, which is in Warlpiri land. Missionaries christened Gladys during that period.

Her first marriage was to Old Water Tjampitjinpa, who was one of the original artists to be in charge of painting the first mural on the wall of the Papunya school wall. The other members of this project were Uta Uta and Old Mick Tjakamarra.

With the passing of her first husband, Gladys remarried to Johnny Warankula, who was one of those affiliated with the original group of painting men.

It came to pass that Johnny Warankula in the late 80 slowly began to loose his eyesight. Gladys would often help him with the background formation of his painting. Johnny Warrangkula is regarded as being one of the driving forces of the traditional Aboriginal painting movement during the 1980's. He is now totally blind.(1998)

Gladys cultivated a style that is a conglomeration of her master instructors, encapsulating the spirit of the Tjukurrpa painting movement.

Gladys loves to paint the dreamings of her people and to convey her dreamings to the world.

er works are represented in the Art Gallery of south Australia. She has exhibited in the World Expo'88. Witchetty Grub and other Bush Tucker stories make up the dreaming she depicts on canvas.

The dreamings come from her mother and father's country. Currently, Gladys resides in Papunya, where she is one of the senior traditional women of the community.

Many private collectors throughout Europe and North America have acquired her work.

Gladys has been painting for the Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery, Alice Springs - Sydney - Melbourne since 1992.