JUDY WATSON NAPANGARDI

Biography

Judy Napangardi Watson was born around 1935, near Mt. Doreen Station. Like most Warlpiri people of that era she lived a traditional nomadic life hunting for food and water. Throughout her life she frequently traveled back to her traditional country of Mina Mina and  and Yingipurrangu on the borders of the Tanami and Gibson Deserts.

Judy was taught to paint by her older sister Maggie Napangardi Watson. She mostly painted Mina Mina Dreaming stories but some of her totems were Honey Ant, Snake Vine and Hair-string Belt.

Late in life she taught her traditional knowledge and painting skills to he granddaughter Karen Napaljarri Barnes, who from of the age of eleven, sat with Judy as she taught her the stories associated with the Warlpiri culture.

Karen has become a major success in her own right having a number of solo exhibitions including two at Pandanus Gallery, that were sell-outs.