Lorna Fencer Napurrula

Lorna Fencer Napurrula, born in Yumurrpa Country near Chilla Well in the Tanami Desert of the Northern Territory, was a senior Warlpiri woman and esteemed custodian of her ancestral lands. Her early life was deeply rooted in the traditions and ceremonies of her people, particularly those associated with the Yarla (Yam) Dreaming, which originates from her birthplace and extends north toward Lajamanu.

In 1949, Lorna, along with many Warlpiri people, was forcibly relocated by the government from Yuendumu to the settlement at Lajamanu, approximately 250 miles north. Despite this upheaval, she maintained and strengthened her cultural identity through ceremonial activities and art, asserting her position as a prominent elder and teacher within her community.

Lorna began painting on canvas in the mid-1980s, transitioning from traditional body painting and designs on women's coolamons and digging sticks. Her artworks are renowned for their bold, abstract designs and vibrant colours, reflecting her deep knowledge of tribal Dreamings and her intuitive use of colour and gestural brush strokes. Her main Dreamings include the bush yam, bush tomato, caterpillar, wallaby, and various seeds, each carrying significant spiritual and ecological narratives.

Lorna's contributions to Aboriginal art have been widely recognised, with her works held in major collections both nationally and internationally, including the Australian National Gallery and the National Gallery of Victoria. She participated in numerous exhibitions, such as the 1991 "Paint Up Big: Warlpiri Women's Art from Lajamanu" at the National Gallery of Victoria and the 2002 "The Big Picture" at Vivien Anderson Gallery in Melbourne.