Maggie Napaljarri Ross
Artist Profile
Maggie Napaljarri Ross was born at Coniston Station in the Northern Territory in the early 1940s. She spent her early years there, before moving to Yuendumu as a child where she attended the mission school. Like her older brother Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, she went on to teach at the Yuendumu School before working as a cleaner at Yuendumu clinic.
Maggie has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Art Corporation since 1987, a few years after the founding of the Art Centre. She has exhibited her art work in Group Exhibitions across Australia, in USA and Singapore. Maggie uses an unrestricted palette to develop a modern interpretation of her traditional culture.
Maggie's traditional country is in and around the Yuendumu area, at sites such as Wakurlpu, Yuendumu, Kakadu (Mt Dennison) and Wariwari (Mt Allan). She is responsible for Jukurrpa relating to Marlu (kangaroos), Janmarda (bush onions), Janganpa (possums), Warlawurru (eagles) and Miinypa (native fuschia). These Jukurrpa were passed down to her by her father and mother, and relate directly to the land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it.
Now widowed, Maggie has four children and "a big mob of grandkids". She enjoys teaching her grandchildren how to hunt for bush tucker such as witchetty grubs, goannas and bush onions. Maggie also looks forward to ceremonies, dancing and singing with the other women.
