Debbie Brown Napaljarri Warlpiri, b. 1985

Debbie Brown Napaljarri's art is remarkably distinctive. She commonly utilises black and navy backgrounds in order to overlay indricate rows of dots, that at points, seem to fuse into one and other. Her art possess an indescribable dynamism and movement, which has since become a hallmark of her best works.

Napaljarri was born in Nyirripi in the Northern Territory. She grew up within a small community, attending boarding school for a number of years. The artist learned to paint from her grandmother in 1996, and began painting for the Aboriginal-owned art centre, Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in 2006. 

 

Napaljarri's work often reflects the stories passed down by her mother and father, interpreting scenes from the creation period, when their divine ancestors established the world with flora, fauna and landmarks such as sandhills. She explores the interconnected relationships within both the natural and ancestral worlds.