Janet Forrester Ngala

Janet Forrester Ngala is a respected Anmatyerre artist from the Utopia region of Central Australia. Born around 1935 at Ti-Tree, north of Alice Springs, Janet grew up surrounded by the stories, ceremonies, and cultural practices of her people. She is the sister of renowned artist Ada Bird Petyarre, and has long been recognised within her community for her role in maintaining and sharing cultural knowledge.

Janet began painting in the late 1980s, during a time when women from Utopia were emerging as important voices in the contemporary Aboriginal art movement. Her works often depict Awelye (women’s ceremonial body paint designs) and Dreaming stories connected to her Country. Using intricate dotting, free-flowing line work, and a strong sense of rhythm, her paintings honour both the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of Anmatyerre culture.

Her art reflects themes of kinship, land, and women’s Law, with designs that carry layers of meaning tied to identity and connection to Country. Janet’s work has been exhibited widely, both in Australia and overseas, and is represented in major collections.

As an elder and artist, Janet Forrester Ngala has contributed significantly to the continuation of cultural practices through art. Her paintings stand as a visual record of ancestral stories and women’s knowledge, ensuring they are passed on to future generations while also being celebrated by audiences worldwide.