Dorothy Napangardi Robinson

DOB: c. 1958

BORN: TANAMI DESERT

SKIN NAME: NAPANGARDI

REGION: TANAMI DESERT

LANGUAGE: WARLPIRI

Dorothy Napangardi (c. 1958-2013) was the master of movement. Her dotted representations of the landscape around her country are truly captivating and have made her one of the most well-known Australian Aboriginal aritsts. Dorothy had great success both in Australia and overseas, and some of her many achievements include winning the National Aboriginal and Torres Strai Islander Art Award in 2001, a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2003 and being included in Sydney Biennale in 2012.

Dorothy was born in 1958 and her country is Mina Mina, which is about 400km North West of Alice Springs. Mina Mina is the site of an important rock hole and there are many Dreaming stories associated with this country. Dorothy was one of around 3,000 Warlpiri speakers who lived in or are originally from the Tanami Desert region of Central Australia.

Whilst Dorothy had little 'formal' schooling, she was well versed in the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) narratives and has a deep knowledge of her country. Her father was also a senior lawgiver. Dorothy grew up 'bush' with no exposure to white man until her family moved to the Yuendumu settlement.

Dorothy has had numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Australia and overseas. Her art is in the collections of several museums, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Linden-Musum in Stuttgart Germany, The Kelton Foundation in Santa Monica USA, The Vroom Collection in the Nertherlands and The LeWitt collection in Connecticut, USA.

Highest price paid for Dorothy Napangardi painting 122cm x 152cm - AU$129,750 at Sotherby's - Melbourne 24-11-09