Women of the Western Desert
Walungurru and Kiwirrkurra
28 August 2025 – 03 October 2025
About Exhibition
In the 1990s, the women of the Western Desert made their mark in Australian art history. After paving the way for women artists, Emily Kam Kngwarray passed away in 1996, the same year women from Walungurru and Kiwirrkurra began painting in a new wave that surpassed the successes of the men who had been painting for twenty years prior.
Women of the Western Desert: Walungurru and Kiwirrkurra highlights works from the leading painters and draws from the wider history of the region to understand the context surrounding what is recognised as a ‘women’s art movement’ in the Western Desert.
This exhibition precedes D’Lan Contemporary’s third consecutive participation in Frieze Masters, London this October 2025 where the gallery will present the work of two leading artists from the Western Desert, Makinti Napanangka and Naata Nungurraryi, at an international art fair for the first time.
Works
Tatali Nangala, Untitled - Women's Ceremonies at Warlukaritja, 1996
Tatali Nangala,
Untitled - Women's Ceremonies at Warlukaritja 1996
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
151 x 118.5 cm (59.4 x 46.7 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. TN 961130 Aboriginal Art, Sotheby's, Melbourne, 26 June 2000, lot 238 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2000
Private Collection
Sold
Naata Nungurrayi, Untitled - Marrapinti, 1999
Naata Nungurrayi,
Untitled - Marrapinti 1999
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
120 x 60 cm (47.2 x 23.6 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. NN990887 A-Space on Cleveland, Sydney, New South Wales , Sydney, New South Wales Australian Aboriginal Art, Christies, Melbourne, 30 August 2005, lot 9 , acquired from the above Aboriginal and Oceanic Art, Sotheby's Sydney, 25 November 2007, lot 58 Corporate Collection, Sydney, New South Wales, acquired from the above Australian & International Art, Gibson's Auctioneers & Valuers, Melbourne, 16 April 2023, lot 174 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 28,000
AVAILABLE
Naata Nungurrayi, Untitled - Marrapinti, 1999
Naata Nungurrayi,
Untitled - Marrapinti 1999
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
153 x 91 cm (60.2 x 35.8 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. NN9904111 Utopia Art, Sydney, New South Wales , New South Wales, acquired from the above , acquired from the above with the assistance of Tim Klingender Fine Arts, Sydney Aboriginal Art, Sotheby's, New York, 20 May 2025, lot 30 , acquired from the above
Private Collection
On Hold
Naata Nungurrayi, Untitled - Wirrulnga, 2004
Naata Nungurrayi,
Untitled - Wirrulnga 2004
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
91 x 61 cm (35.8 x 24 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, cat. no. NN0403148 , Northern Territory, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Makinti Napanangka AM, Untitled - Lupulnga, 2003
Makinti Napanangka AM,
Untitled - Lupulnga 2003
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
122 x 91 cm (48 x 35.8 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. MN0309180 , South Australia, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 40,000
AVAILABLE
Makinti Napanangka AM, Untitled - Lupulnga, 2004
Makinti Napanangka AM,
Untitled - Lupulnga 2004
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
107 x 91 cm (42 x 35.8 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. MN0411159 , South Australia, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 32,000
AVAILABLE
Makinti Napanangka AM, Untitled - Lupulnga, 2009
Makinti Napanangka AM,
Untitled - Lupulnga 2009
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
91 x 61 cm
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artist, Alice Springs, cat. no. MN0912026 , Alice Springs, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Sold
Walangkura Napanangka, Untitled - Old Woman Dreaming, 2002
Walangkura Napanangka,
Untitled - Old Woman Dreaming 2002
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
152 x 121 cm (59.8 x 47.6 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN0204079 Aboriginal Art, Lawson-Menzies, Sydney, 25 June 2004, lot 74A , Queensland, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 36,000
AVAILABLE
Walangkura Napananka, Untitled - Tjintjintjin, 2009
Walangkura Napananka,
Untitled - Tjintjintjin 2009
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
91 x 61 cm (35.8 x 24 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN0905057 Cross Cultural Art Exchange (CCAE), Darwin, Northern Territory , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2009
Private Collection
AUD 8,800
AVAILABLE
Walangkura Napanangka, Untitled - Lupunga, 2005
Walangkura Napanangka,
Untitled - Lupunga 2005
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
122 x 153 cm (48 x 60.2 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted in Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN0509094 , South Australia, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 36,000
AVAILABLE
Walangkura Napananka, Untitled - Tjukurla, 2006
Walangkura Napananka,
Untitled - Tjukurla 2006
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
91 x 61 cm (35.8 x 24 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN0509094 Harvey Art Projects, Idaho, United States of America , Victoria, acquired from the above in 2009
Private Collection
AUD 8,800
AVAILABLE
Walangkura Napanangka, Untitled - Tjukurla, 2006
Walangkura Napanangka,
Untitled - Tjukurla 2006
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
152 x 183 cm (59.8 x 72 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN0607072 D’Lan Contemporary, Melbourne, Victoria , Brisbane, Queensland, acquired from the above in 2020
Private Collection
EXHIBITED
The 23rd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA), Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Northern Territory, August 2006
On Hold
Kawayi Nampitjinpa, Untitled - Pinpirnrnga, 2010
Kawayi Nampitjinpa,
Untitled - Pinpirnrnga 2010
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
122 x 107 (48 x 42.1 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. KN1007074 Cross Cultural Art Exchange (CCAE), Darwin, Northern Territory , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 18,000
AVAILABLE
Kawayi Nampitjinpa, Untitled - Pinpirnrnga, 2011
Kawayi Nampitjinpa,
Untitled - Pinpirnrnga 2011
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
122 x 61 cm (48 x 24 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. KN1112035 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2012
Private Collection
Sold
Wintjiya Napaltjarri, Untitled - Women's Ceremonies at Watanuma, 2010
Wintjiya Napaltjarri,
Untitled - Women's Ceremonies at Watanuma 2010
synthetic polymer on Belgium linen
122 × 137 cm (48 × 53.9 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN1001024 Debra and Dennis Scholl Collection, Miami Beach, Florida
EXHIBITED
Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia, Newcomb Art Museum, Tulane University, New Orleans, 7 September 2016 – 1 January 2017; Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, 28 January – 7 May 2017; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona, 23 September 2017 – 21 January 2018; Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, 17 February – 13 May 2018; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, 2 June – 9 September 2018; Museum of Anthropology, The University of British Colombia, Vancouver, 1 November 2018 – 24 February 2019
LITERATURE
Henry F. Skerritt (ed.), Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, and DelMonico Books-Prestel, Munich-London-New York, 2019, p. X
Sold
Wintjiya Napaltjarri, Untitled - Women's ceremonies at Watanuma, 2011
Wintjiya Napaltjarri,
Untitled - Women's ceremonies at Watanuma 2011
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian Linen
122 x 122 cm (48 x 48 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. WN1101108 Debra and Dennis Scholl Collection, Miami Beach, Florida
EXHIBITED
Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia, Newcomb Art Museum, Tulane University, New Orleans, 7 September 2016 – 1 January 2017; Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, Miami, 28 January – 7 May 2017; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona, 23 September 2017 – 21 January 2018; Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, 17 February – 13 May 2018; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, 2 June – 9 September 2018; Museum of Anthropology, The University of British Colombia, Vancouver, 1 November 2018 – 24 February 2019
LITERATURE
Henry F. Skerritt (ed.), Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, and DelMonico Books-Prestel, Munich-London-New York, 2019, p. 62
AUD 25,000
AVAILABLE
Yinarupa Nangala, Untitled - Mukula, 2008
Yinarupa Nangala,
Untitled - Mukula 2008
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
152 x 122 cm (59.8 x 48 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, created at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. YN0809025 Cross Cultural Art Exchange (CCAE), Darwin, Northern Territory , Darwin, Northern Territory, acquired from the above
Private Collection
AUD 35,000
AVAILABLE
Yinarupa Nangala, Untitled - Mukula, 2008
Yinarupa Nangala,
Untitled - Mukula 2008
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
183 x 242.5 cm (72 x 95.4 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Alice Springs, Northern Territory Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. YN0803209 NATSIAA, Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2009 Lennox St Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above
Private Collection
EXHIBITED
Indigenous Masterworks from the Papunya Tula, Utopia & Tiwi Islands Artists, Lennox St. Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, 12 June – 7 July 2024 The 26th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA), Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, August 2009 – Winner of the General Painting Award
AUD 120,000
AVAILABLE
Doreen Reid Nakamarra, Untitled - Marrapinti, 2008
Doreen Reid Nakamarra,
Untitled - Marrapinti 2008
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
183 x 244 cm
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. DR0802033 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2008
Private Collection
EXHIBITED
The 25th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA), Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, August 2008 – Winner of the General Painting Award
Sold
Doreen Reid Nakamarra, Untitled - Marrapinti, 2009
Doreen Reid Nakamarra,
Untitled - Marrapinti 2009
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
137 x 122 cm (53.9 x 48 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. DR0907092 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2012
Private Collection
AUD 180,000
AVAILABLE
Yukultji Napangati, Untitled - Marrapinti, 2012
Yukultji Napangati,
Untitled - Marrapinti 2012
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
183 x 153 cm (72 x 60.2 inches)
PROVENANCE
The Artist, painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, cat. no. YN1208104 , Melbourne, Victoria, acquired from the above in 2012
Private Collection
Sold