Judy Napangardi Watson

Judy Watson was born at Yarungkanji, Mt. Doreen Station, around 1935, at the time when many Warlpiri and other Central and Western Desert Peoples were living a traditional nomadic life. With her family Judy made many trips on foot to her country and lived for long periods at Mina Mina and Yingipurlangu, her ancestral country on the border of the Tanami and Gibson Deserts. These places are rich in bush tucker such as wanakiji, bush plums, yakajirri, bush tomatoes, and wardapi, sand goanna. Judy still frequently goes hunting in the country west of Yuendumu, near her homelands.

In 2007 she was selected as one of the 50 most collectable artists by Art and Collector.

Judy was taught painting by her elder sister, Maggie Napangardi Watson. She painted alongside her at Warlukurlangu art centre for a number of years, developing her own unique style.

Though a very tiny woman Judy has had ten children, two of whom she has outlived. She is a woman of incredible energy, this is transmitted to her work through her dynamic use of colour, and energetic 'dragged dotting' style. She is at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa by Warlpiri artists, however her work retains strong kurruwarri, the details which tell of the sacredness of place and song in her culture.

The country associated with Jukurrpa is Mina Mina, a place far to the West of Yunedumu, which is significant to Napangardi and Napanangka women, the custodians of the Jukurrpa that created the area. The Jukurrpa story tells of the journey of a group of women of all ages who travelled to the East gathering food, collecting Ngalyipi (snake vine) and performing ceremonies as they travelled. The women began their journey at Mina Mina where Karla-ngu (digging sticks) emerged from the ground. Taking these implements the women travelled East creating Janyinki and other sites.

Their journey took them far to the East beyond the boundaries of Walpiri country. The Ngalyipi vine grows up the trunks and limbs of the Kurrkara (desert oak) trees. Ngalyipi is a vine sacred to Napangardi and Napanangka women and has many uses, including as a ceremonial wrap, as a strap to carry Parrajas (wooden bowls) laden with busk tucker and as a torniquet for headaches.