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Artist | NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Lurrdurd, Jila Ngapa. [4/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Lurrdurd, Jila Ngapa


4/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Wurna Juwal. [11/16] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Wurna Juwal


11/16 (2016)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Wurna Juwal. [296/16] (Etching on Metal/Acrylic Spray Paint)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Wurna Juwal


296/16 (2016)
Etching on Metal/Acrylic Spray Paint
40 x 40cm | 15.75 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Murrlowugul. [2/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint and Felt Tip Pen on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Murrlowugul


2/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint and Felt Tip Pen on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Jilji and Bila. [174/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Jilji and Bila


174/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
40 x 60cm | 15.75 x 23.62in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Jilji and Bila. [197/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Jilji and Bila


197/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Kurtal. [191/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Kurtal


191/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
40 x 60cm | 15.75 x 23.62in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Jilji and Bila. [173/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Jilji and Bila


173/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY of Mangkaja Artists. The title is Jilji and Bila. [175/15] (Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood)

NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY (dec)

Jilji and Bila


175/15 (2015)
Atelier Acrylic Paint on Plywood
60 x 40cm | 23.62 x 15.75in
Mangkaja Artists

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Ngarralja is a Wangkajunga/Walmajarri man, was born at Yarrnkurnja in the Great Sandy Desert. He dances and sings Kurtal, a ceremony relating to the main jila (living waterhole) in his country. He is also a painter and printmaker.

Ngarralja says of his early life: “I was big when I left my country. I was already hunting by myself. I was with my young brother and my mother. My father had passed away by this time. I know these stories and these places in my country. I paint these now. We are not allowed to paint that story for other people’s country. We will get killed or into trouble if we do this. We put that easy story, not a really hard story like law business. We can’t paint that either. I ï¬rst saw paintings in caves. I learned a lot from people, mostly my father and grandfather. I was living all around in my country, camping all around. When I paint I think about this.”

Ngarralja is uent in Wangkajunga, Walmajarri and English and writes Walmajarri. He is a founding member of the Karrayili Adult Education centre where he learnt to read and write his own language and English.

Ngarralja holds an important role for art and culture in Fitzroy Crossing. He is a former Deputy Chairman of Mangkaja Arts and former Chairman of Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC) and the Association of Northern Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA). Ngarralja was also an executive for 21 years on the ANKAAA Board of Directors.

Today, Ngarralja lives with his wife and children at Mindi Rardi Community in Fitzroy Crossing.



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Ngarralja is a Wangkajunga/Walmajarri man, was born at Yarrnkurnja in the Great Sandy Desert. He dances and sings Kurtal, a ceremony relating to the main jila (living waterhole) in his country. He is also a painter and printmaker.

Ngarralja says of his early life: “I was big when I left my country. I was already hunting by myself. I was with my young brother and my mother. My father had passed away by this time. I know these stories and these places in my country. I paint these now. We are not allowed to paint that story for other people’s country. We will get killed or into trouble if we do this. We put that easy story, not a really hard story like law business. We can’t paint that either. I ï¬rst saw paintings in caves. I learned a lot from people, mostly my father and grandfather. I was living all around in my country, camping all around. When I paint I think about this.”

Ngarralja is uent in Wangkajunga, Walmajarri and English and writes Walmajarri. He is a founding member of the Karrayili Adult Education centre where he learnt to read and write his own language and English.

Ngarralja holds an important role for art and culture in Fitzroy Crossing. He is a former Deputy Chairman of Mangkaja Arts and former Chairman of Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC) and the Association of Northern Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA). Ngarralja was also an executive for 21 years on the ANKAAA Board of Directors.

Today, Ngarralja lives with his wife and children at Mindi Rardi Community in Fitzroy Crossing.



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