Martumili Artists Desert Studios
tel: (08) 9175 1020 | email: martumili@eastpilbara.wa.gov.au | web: www.martumili.com.au
About Martumili Artists paint from 7 different places, Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji, Irrungadji, Parnpajinya (Newman) and Warralong. These towns and desert communities are now home for many Martu, many of whom maintained an entirely independent, nomadic desert lifestyle up until the late 1960s. Paintings tell stories of country traversed, special meeting places, waterholes and are an integral part of the passing of knowledge from those pujiman (traditional) days.
Even now, life shifts like desert sands, people continuously moving between places as work, family and other commitments require. For Martumili Artists, there is always a place to stop for a while, have a cup of tea, paint, share stories and spend time learning from each other. It’s not unusual for an elder to be quietly singing in language as they paint and there is always a jarntu (dog) or two around. Canvas is primed, paints are mixed - the ‘art shed’ is so much more than the name implies – it is a bustling, lively, working studio.
Parnngurr Parnngurr (originally known as Cotton Creek) is located in Karlamilyi (Ruddall River) National Park, within Martu Country, 370kms drive from Newman. Martu Elders set up the community in the 1980s, in a movement known as ‘Back to Country’. Currently around 140 Martu call Parnngurr home. Parnngurr is where Martumili started. After years of meetings and wangka (talking), Martu artists formed their art centre, Martumili (belonging to Martu). The Parnngurr art shed has been a crucial place of creativity, hosting some of the most significant collaborative paintings, Martumili’s most prolific artists can be found there, along with plenty of jarntu (dogs)!
19-897 | Thelma Judson
Linyjalangu Acrylic on arches paper 65 x 50 cm $650
21-738 | Thelma Judson
Ngalyawirltily Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $495
19-970-2/4 | Wokka Taylor
Untitled Wood carving print 29 x 39 cm $270
SOLD
20-1298 | Kumpaya Girgirba Kunawarritji (Canning Stock Route Well 33) Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm
$495
21-835 | Corban Williams
21-823 | Jenny Butt
$820
$450
Kaalpa (Route Well 23) Acrylic on canvas 36 x 76 cm SOLD
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
21-322 | Wokka Taylor
Wungkakurlu Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $580
21-683 | Muuki Taylor
Kulyakartu Box Canvas Acrylic on linen 30 x 30 cm $315
21-628 | Derrick Butt
Kulyakartu Acrylic on linen 106 x 152 cm $3545
SOLD
21-54 | Kumpaya Girgirba
Kunawarritji (Well 33) Acrylic on canvas 61 x 91 cm $1665
21-838 | Corban Williams
Kaalpa (Well 23) Acrylic on canvas 46 x 76 cm $1050
SOLD
19-73 | Noreena Kadibil
21-225 | Raylene Butt
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $200
Granddaughters at Parnngurr School Acrylic on canvas 91 x 61 cm $1100 20-1071 | Wokka Taylor, May Wokka Chapman, Nyanjilpayi Chapman
Collaborative Acrylic on linen 125 x 300 cm $11,250
Jigalong Jigalong was established in 1907 as the site for a maintenance and rations store for workmen constructing the Rabbit Proof Fence, and was converted into a camel breeding site in the 1930’s before finally becoming a Christian mission in 1947. For many Martu, Jigalong Mission was the site where their pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) lifestyle began to change from the late 1940’s onwards. Rations of flour, sugar and tea became available, and in amongst a long drought, this was very appealing over the daily intensive labour of preparing traditional bushfoods. From this time, Martu mostly transitioned to a life as stockmen and women working in cattle stations in the Pilbara region and beyond. Today, Jigalong is the largest of the Martu communities and artists are painting about mission days and surrounding country such as Puntawarri, Jillukurru and the Rabbit Proof Fence.
21-971 | Heather Samson
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 76 cm $330
21-978 | Tanya Charles
Untitled 46 x 61 cm Acrylic on canvas $505
SOLD
21-908 | Marianne Burton
Punmu waterholes Acrylic on canvas 36 x 76 cm $685
17-870 | Miriam Atkins
Palyanya Acrylic on canvas 76 x 76 cm $1000
20-140 | Miriam Atkins
Untitled Gauche on archers paper 65 x 101 cm $1,181
SOLD
21-564 | Heather Samson
21-660 | Denise Atkins
Old Jigalong Acyrlic on canvas 51 x 61cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 61 x 61 cm
$373
$595
21-813 | Moranda Burton
Waterhole Acrylic on canvas 36 x 61 cm $305
21-529 | Helen Samson
Jigalong Acrylic on canvas 36 x 61 cm $550
14-599 | Hayley Atkins
Bush Trip Acrylic on canvas 46 x 76cm $250
SOLD
Kunawarritji Kunawarritji, the farthest community serviced by Martumili, lies 860kms from Newman and is an important site in the Great Sandy Desert. Originally a spring, Kunawarritji was converted to a well (Well 33) as part of the Canning Stock Route, built at the turn of the 20th century. Long before colonial history encountered this country, Jukurrpa (dreaming) stories dominated this site. Many pioneering Martu artists have lived and worked in Kunawarritji, including the infamous Nora Wompi (dec.), Nora Nungabar (dec.), and the highly esteemed Bugai Whyoulter. Kunawarritji is a site of return, a place where still today, people come back to continue their life in the desert.
21-634 | Cyril Whyoulter
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $415
20-800 | Phillip Nyaparu Bell
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $660
15-586 | Bugai Whyoulter
Parnngurr Community Acrylic on canvas 76 x 122cm $3700
11-758 | Phillip Nyaparu Bell
Untitled Watercolour on paper 56 x 76cm $851
19-592 | Bugai Whyoulter
21-490 | Cyril Whyoulter
Punmu Acrylic on linen 61 x 91 cm
Wantili (Well 25) Acrylic on canvas 61 x 91 cm
$2200
$1390
SOLD
Parnpajinya Parnpajinya (Newman) is a small Aboriginal community adjacent to the mining town of Newman. With a population of 7,000 people, Newman acts as a service hub for many of the remote communities, and is the base of Martumili Artists operations. In 2016, after working from two small dongas at the back of the East Pilbara Shire, Martumili moved into a purpose designed studio and gallery. A state of the art building where artists, families, community members and visitors can enjoy the art that is created on Martu Country, and exhibited worldwide.
20-2 | Desmond Taylor 21-194 | Judith Anya Samson
Tuwa in Puntawarri Acrylic on linen 91 x 122 cm $2775
SOLD
Niminjarra (mother) Acrylic on arches paper 75 x 105cm $1575
21-915 | Janita Angie
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $230
21-254 | Pauline Williams
21-736 | Curtis Taylor
Emu Export Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm
Kunawarritji Rockholes Acrylic on linen 91 x 91 cm
$330
$1490
SOLD
21-561 | Curtis Taylor
Keens Curry Powder Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $660
SOLD
21-703 | Attaya Angie
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm $335
21-974 | Marlene Anderson
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 76 cm $490
21-906 | Robina Clause
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 76 cm $490
21-551 | Jason Tinker
The Centre of Australia Acrylic on linen 91 x 122 cm $2220
SOLD
21-603 | Jason Anthony
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $230
Irrungadji Irrungadji community (Nullagine) lies along the Nullagine River, the site of many Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narratives including the Minyipuru (Jakulyukulyu, Seven Sisters). The Minyipuru passed through this area. Carved on a rock just outside of Nullagine is Yurla, the relentless pursuer of the sisters, eternally watching them. Another set of famous sisters who call Irrungadji home are Amy French and Lily Long. These two strong, feisty women are committed to sharing the Warnman stories of Karlamilyi Country, and are inspiring a generation of young people in Irrungadji to follow in their footsteps.
19-71| Lily Jatarr Long
Karlamilyi Acrylic on canvas 61 x 91 cm $1,600
19-25 | Amy French
Punmu warla (lake) Acrylic on canvas 90 x 60 cm $1600
SOLD
20-376 | Amy French
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $580
15-851 | Helen Samson, Lily Long
Karlamilyi Acrylic on canvas 124 x 152cm $5600
Punmu Punmu is situated in the north of Karlamilyi (Rudall River) National Park, on the edge of Ngayartakujarra (Lake Dora), a very important and captivating warla (salt lake). Martu Elders set up the community in the ‘Back to Country’ movement in the 1980s, as the community sits close to many important water sites. Punmu has inspired many significant paintings based around the warla Jukurrpa and the traditional knowledge of the important waterholes and sites around the community. Senior artists based in Punmu are working hard to pass knowledge of culture and Country to younger generations, keeping the community strong and the country healthy.
21-956 | Julia Burton
21-123 | Victor Yulyampi Burton
Wilarra Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $230
SOLD
18-1228 | Nyanjilpayi Chapman
Kalaru Acrylic on arches paper 66 x 52 cm
$415
$960
21-705 | Jeremy Sammy
21-802 | Danita Wise
Waterholes Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm
$230
$200
SOLD
21-769 | Morika Biljabu
Karnakalu Pupapupajunu Acrylic on canvas 61 x 91 cm $775
19-477 | Mulyatingki Marnay
Wilarra Acrylic on linen 36 x 61 cm $760
21-759 | Bianca Simpson
Wilarra Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $330
21-907 | Karen Rogers
Untitled
Acrylic on canvas 36 x 76 cm $490
21-767 | Gladys Kuru Bidu
Wantili (Well 25) Acrylic on canvas 46 x 76 cm $630
21-847 | Jakayu Biljabu, Gladys Bidu
Wantili (Well 25) Acrylic on canvas 61 x 91 cm $2220
21-751 | Danielle Booth
21-981 | Marnie French
$230
$200
Bush Tucker Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm SOLD
21-749 | Beverley Rogers
Kurturarra Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $230
21-274 | Roxanne Newberry
Circus Waters My father Country Acrylic on linen 76 x 122 cm $1670
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm SOLD
21-752 | Christine Thomas
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 36 x 46 cm $230
Warralong Warralong community was established as an offshoot of Strelley Station, with its residents holding strong ties to its pastoral history, including the famous 1946 Pilbara strike. The closest of the communities to the coast, Warralong is surrounded by lush waterways and grassy spots to camp The community is centred around the school, which is where the Warralong artists set up to paint. Martumili Artists such as Biddy Bunawarrie, Lorna Linmurra, Mary Rowlands, May Mayiwalku Chapman and Doreen Chapman all call Warralong home, often painting between there and Marble Bar. These lively wantis (women) love to take the Martumili staff camping and fishing when they can!
21-427 | Elizabeth Toby
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 76 x 152 cm $2080
21-591 | Ngamaru Bidu
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 cm $445
21-865 | Lorna Linmurra
Rockhole Acrylic on linen 76 x 152 cm $2310
21-590 | Ngamaru Bidu
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 30 x 40 cm $445
SOLD
21-830 | May Wokka Chapman
21-815 | Biddy Bunawarrie
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
$980
$700
$450
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
21-979 | Shennielle Sambo
SOLD
21-824 | Doreen Chapman
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm $700
21-825 | May Wokka Chapman
21-816 | Biddy Bunawarrie
21-812 | Mary Rowlands
$980
$700
$505
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
Untitled Acrylic on canvas 46 x 61 cm
SOLD