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Desert Journey Silk Top

Sale price$249.95 AUD

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout


Presenting a distinctively Australian Aboriginal art design by esteemed Warlpiri artist, Mary Napangardi Gallagher, this beautifully handmade silk top exemplifies Mainie’s “Luxurious, Authentic, Unique” trademark.

The exquisite Desert Journey print design reflects the vibrant earth and sky colours distinctive to the Australian Outback. This versatile and easy to wear top is perfect for all occasions from casual beach wear to evening wear. The top can be worn poncho style with the buttons at the front and back for a longer look or it can be worn horizontally with the buttons along the arms for an elegant off the shoulder look. 

  • 100% Silk Chiffon
  • One size
  • Hand rolled hem
  • Hand stitched button loops
  • Natural shell buttons
  • Digitally printed silk
  • 2 x 45cm wide by 150cm long
  • Presented in a handmade gift box lined with tissue paper
  • Artwork and artist information card
  • Royalties are paid to the artist with every item sold

The Artwork Story

Mina Mina Jukurrpa (Desert Journey Dreaming)

The original artwork by artist Mary Napangardi Gallagher depicts the Dreamtime Story about a journey by a group of Warlpiri women who travelled across the desert gathering a vine called Ngalyipi. The Ngalyipi vine has long been used by the Warlpiri women for sacred ceremonies. The vine also has medicinal uses. 

To learn more about Mary Napangardi Gallagher click here

Desert Journey Silk Top
Desert Journey Silk Top Sale price$249.95 AUD

Artist details

Mary Napangardi Gallagher

Mary Napangardi Gallagher was born in Napperby, a homestead 120 km from Papunya, a remote Aboriginal community in Central Australia. Mary paints her father’s Jukurrpa (Dreamings), which relate to Pikilyi Jukurrpa (Vaughan Springs) a large and important waterhole in the desert country; and Janmarda Jukurrpa (Bush Onion Dreaming).

Mary remembers playing in this area as a child, while collecting bush tucker with her family. The Jukurrpa at Napperby belongs to all Napangardi, Napanangka, Japangardi and Japanangka descendants and has been passed down over the millennia to the present day through many generations of the artists’ ancestors.

When Mary was a young adult, she moved with her family to the Aboriginal community of Yuendumu, located in the Tanami Desert region around 290 km from Alice Springs. Mary met and married her husband in Yuendumu and later moved to Nyirripi, a remote Aboriginal outstation about 160 km north-west of Yuendumu, to bring up her five children Ben, Duncan, Richard, Eldy and Rea, and several grandchildren. Mary and her grown-up children still live at Nyirripi.

Mary has been painting with Warlukurlangu Arts Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre based in Yuendumu, since 2006. The art centre staff regularly visit Nyirripi to collect finished work and drop off canvas, paint and brushes for the artists. When Mary is not painting, she likes to go hunting with her family for goanna and bush tucker.