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Mary Napangardi Gallagher

Mary Napangardi Gallagher was born in Napperby, a remote place 120 kilometres from the community of Papunya in Central Australia. When she was a young adult, Mary moved with her family to Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. She met and married her husband in Yuendumu and later moved to Nyirripi, an isolated outstation 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 in Nyirripi. Mary has been painting with the world-acclaimed Warlukurlangu Art Centre since 2006. The art centre staff regularly visit Nyirripi to collect finished work and drop off canvas, paint and brushes for the artists. 

Mary paints her father’s Jukurrpa (Dreamings) which relate to Pikilyi Jukurrpa (Vaughan Springs) a

large and important waterhole; and Janmarda Jukurrpa (Bush Onion Dreaming). Mary also paints the Mina Mina Jukurrpa which depicts a sacred place on her ancestral homelands. These ancient Dreaming stories have been handed down from one generation to the next over thousands of years.

When Mary is not painting she likes to go hunting with her family for goanna and bush tucker.