Bessie Sims Nakamarra sims

Bessie Nakamarra Sims (c. 1932 – 2012) was an Aboriginal artist from the community of Yuendumu, a settlement centre of the Warlpiri group.

Born in the 1930s in the Tanami Desert of Central Australia, Bessie grew up in a traditional way. She only encountered Western culture as an adult, when she worked on a cattle ranch at Mt Doreen, west of Yuendumu.

In the 1980s, Bessie became one of the first women to become involved in the art movement in the southern Tanami Desert region. Her career was also closely linked to that of her husband, Paddy Sims Japaljarri, one of the most important Warlpiri artists and renowned for his immense knowledge.

It draws inspiration from ancestral stories (Jukurrpa) such as the Ngarlajiyi (Dreaming of the Bush Carrot), the Janganpa (Dreaming of the Possum), the Pamapardu (Dreaming of the Flying Ant), the Karntajarra (Dreaming of Two Women), the Yarla (Dreaming of the Wild Potato) and the Mukaki (Dreaming of the Wild Plum).

Bessie participated in numerous exhibitions in Australia and internationally, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Korea, and China. She was also active in her community, participating in the Yuendumu Night Patrol to ensure local safety. She passed away in May 2012, surrounded by her family.

Bessie Nakamarra Sims's works are featured in many prestigious private and public institutions.