The artist in front of her Mina Mina painting © The Artists, Photo © IDAIA
The 5th of June 2013 renowned senior Warlpiri artist Dorothy Napangardi tragically passed away .
Dorothy Napangardi was born in the Mina Mina area of the Tanami desert in Central Australia and grew up alongside her family in Yuendumu, where her father was a senior lawman. Many of her paintings represent Mina Mina women journeying across the land from a significant ceremonial site at Lake Mackay, towards the East. Dorothy was represented in several prestigious collections in Australia and overseas. Her work has also received numerous awards as the First Prize of the 18th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in Darwin (2001).
She was killed in a car accident driving into the bush with her family near Alice Springs. It is with deep regret that IDAIA learnt about the sad passing of Dorothy. Dorothy was one of the most talented artists of her generation. We also had the great pleasure to promote her works through our recent exhibition Gestuelles – Art of transmission by Aboriginal desert women at the Alliance Française de Melbourne in April 2013.
She was a fabulous artist who made a major contribution to the appreciation of Indigenous art across the globe and will be sorely missed.