Mary Dixon Nungurrayi

Mary Dixon Nungarrayi, born in 1960 near Town Bore Creek, east of Papunya in the Northern Territory, is a distinguished Warlpiri artist whose work reflects a profound connection to her ancestral lands and cultural heritage. Growing up in the area around Haasts Bluff, she later moved to the Mt Liebig settlement when it was established, aligning more closely with Warlpiri Country.

In the mid-1980s, Mary began her artistic journey when Papunya Tula Artists made regular visits to Mt Liebig to support local artists. Her early works often depicted the Witchetty Grub Dreaming and the Milky Way Dreaming, narratives deeply rooted in Warlpiri cosmology and the desert landscape.

Mary's paintings are characterised by intricate dot work and symbolic motifs that convey the spiritual significance of her Dreamings. Her art not only serves as a visual representation of her cultural narratives but also as a medium for preserving and sharing the rich traditions of the Warlpiri people.

Beyond her artistic endeavours, Mary is part of a family deeply engaged in the arts. She is married to fellow artist Colin Dixon Tjapanangka, and her sister, Maudie Peterson, is also an accomplished painter.

Mary's artworks have been exhibited nationally, including a notable exhibition at the Gauguin Museum in Tahiti in 1988, and are held in various collections, reflecting her significant contribution to contemporary Aboriginal art.