Description

Maria Nampijinpa Brown

Maria Nampijinpa Brown was born in 1973 in Alice Springs, the nearest hospital to her home community of Yuendumu, located 290 km away. Growing up, she was surrounded by creativity, watching her mother, Wendy Nungarrayi Brown, and her grandparents, Paddy Japaljarri Sims and Bessie Nakamarra Sims, as they painted and shared stories rich in culture.

Now a widowed mother of two daughters—Antoinette Napanangka Brown, who also paints, and Alicka Napanangka Brown—Maria continues to live in Yuendumu. Since 1995, she has been an integral part of Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, where she paints the Jukurrpa stories passed down through her family for generations. These tales connect to her traditional country northwest of Nyirirpi, a place that holds deep significance in her art.

Maria’s work blends traditional iconography with her own modern style, bringing her cultural heritage to life. When she’s not painting, you can find her sharing stories with her grandchildren, hunting for honey ants during the rain, or collecting firewood to cook kangaroo tails. Her life and art are beautifully intertwined, reflecting the rich tapestry of her heritage and the stories she cherishes.