Debbie Napaltjarri Brown

Debbie Napaljarri Brown was born in Nyirripi, a remote Aboriginal community approximately 400 km northwest of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. She spent her childhood in Nyirripi, completing most of her education there, though she also attended Yirrara College in Alice Springs as a boarding student for several years. Upon returning to Nyirripi, Debbie worked at the local store and assisted in caring for elders in the community.

In 2010, she relocated to Yuendumu, situated 160 km east of Nyirripi, to be closer to her husband’s family. She moved with her husband and their son, Jarvis. In Yuendumu, Debbie began working at the Women’s Centre, where she prepares lunches for schoolchildren.

Debbie was taught to paint by her grandmother, Margaret Napangardi Brown. Debbie’s grandfather, the renowned Pintupi artist Pegleg Tjampitjinpa, was born around 1920 and grew up near Wilkinkarra, living a traditional lifestyle.

Inspired by her family’s artistic legacy, Debbie often watched her grandmother and grandfather paint, while listening to her grandmother’s Jukurrpa, or Dreaming stories. In her own artwork, Debbie depicts her father’s Jukurrpa—Dreamings connected to the land, its features, flora, and fauna. These narratives, rich in cultural significance, have been passed down through generations, from her grandmother, her mother, and their ancestors for thousands of years.