Biography

Warlpiri, b. 1985 Debbie Napaljarri Brown is a Warlpiri artist from Nyirripi, a remote community north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. She grew up in Nyirripi and later spent several years boarding at Yirrara College in Alice Springs. In 2010, she moved to Yuendumu with her husband and son. Debbie has painted with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation since 2006. She was taught to paint by her grandmother, Margaret Napangardi Brown, who also painted with the art centre. Dreaming & Country: Wanakiji Jukurrpa / Tali Debbie paints Warlpiri Jukurrpa connected to her Country, including Wanakiji Jukurrpa, or Bush Tomato Dreaming, and Tali, or Sandhills. These works relate to food, Country and the sandhill landscapes around Nyirripi and Yuendumu. Style and Technique Debbie’s paintings often use fine rows of dotting across dark grounds, creating a strong sense of movement through the surface. In her sandhill works, the dotted lines form shifting bands that recall wind-shaped dunes and travelling country. The compositions are usually tightly worked, with rhythm carried through repetition rather than large figurative forms. Debbie’s Palette Debbie works with strong contrasts, often using black or dark grounds with rows of white, red, yellow, blue, green, pink or ochre dotting. The palette varies by story, but the structure of the work is usually led by line, contrast and repeated movement. For the Collector Debbie Napaljarri Brown paints through Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, the Aboriginal-owned art centre at Yuendumu. Her work has been shown through Everywhen Artspace, including Synergy 2022, Winter Salon 2022 and The Summer Collector’s Show 2022. Her paintings have also been included in Tali Desert Sand Dunes at Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery.