Judy Watson Napangardi

Judy Watson began painting in the mid-1980s in the community of Yuendumu with her older sister Maggie Napangardi Watson.

Like most walpiri of this generation, she had a nomadic existence before settling in Yuendumu, making a living from hunting and gathering.

Judy is arguably the artist at this art center using such a rich color palette, though she also excels in white and black.

It was around the sites of Mina Mina, Yingipurlangu located between the Gibson desert and that of Tanami that she was initiated into the traditional knowledge from which she draws inspiration in her paintings, seeking to transmit all the quintessence and the energy that emanates from these sacred sites.

His flexible and alert technique allows him to play with color associations and complex shapes to create magnificent compositions as harmonious as they are luminous.

Deceased in 2016, Judy is considered one of the leaders of Aboriginal art. His paintings are part of important private and public collections in Australia and internationally.

Prizes received by this artist:

2003. 20th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Darwin (Australia)

2000. Shell Fremantle Print Award (Australia)

1993. Northern Territory Art Award, Araluen Arts Center, Alice Springs (Australia)

His works are present in many collections:

Araluen Arts Center, Alice Springs (Australia) Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (Australia)

Central TAFE, Perth (Australia)

Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide (Australia)

Gordon Darling Foundation, Canberra (Australia)

Helen Read Collection, Adelaide (Australia)

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra (Australia)

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (Australia)

Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin (Australia)

Parliament House, Canberra (Australia)

South Australian Museum, Adelaide (Australia)

The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica (United States)

The Vroom Collection, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht, (Netherlands)

Philippson Collection, (Belgium)

Main personal and group exhibitions:

2016 Aborigène Galerie, St Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France

2017 “Pigments” Aborigène Galerie, Paris, France

2018 “The Last Initiates” Aborigène Galerie, Paris, France

2021 “Aboriginalité”, Philippson Collection, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Brussels, Belgium

2015. “Face to face”, DZ Galerie, Paris (France)

2013. “Artists at Nyirripi & Yuendumu”, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle (Australia)

2011. “People of the Lands”, Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store, Alice Springs (Australia)

2008. “11 Amazing Women Artists from the Central and Western Desert”, Central Art Aboriginal Art Store, Alice Springs (Australia)

2006. "Karntakurlangu - Women’s Stories", Alcaston Gallery, Sydney (Australia)

2005. “Karnta Jukurrpa”, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne (Australia)

2004. “Judy Napangardi Watson”, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne (Australia)

2004. “Big Country”, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs (Australia)

2004. “Desert Mob Art Show”, Araluen Arts Center, Alice Springs (Australia)

2003. “Desert Mob Art Show”, Araluen Arts Center, Alice Springs (Australia)

2003. “Black and White, Color. Seeing Country in Two Ways ”, Counigan Gallery, Melbourne (Australia)

2003. “Yimi Pirrijirdi - Strong Stories”, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne (Australia)

2002. “Indigenart”, Perth (Australia)

2002. “Onshore Art”, Barwon Heads (Australia)

2002. “Warlukurlangu Collection”, Parliament House, Canberra.

2002. “New Paintings from Yuendumu”, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London (England)

2002. “Warlukurlangu Arts of Yuendumu”, One Union Square Lobby, Seattle (United States)

2000. “Jangku Yinyi” Carey Baptist Grammar School, Melbourne (Australia)

2000. “Marking the Paper”, DesART Gallery, Sydney (Australia)

2000. “Wayuta”, The Desart Janganpa Gallery, Alice Springs (Australia)

2000. “Journey to the North West », Palya Art, Sydney (Australie)

2000. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne (Australie)

2000. « Kurawari », DesART Gallery, Sydney (Australie)

2000. Beaver Galleries, Canberra (Australie)

1999. « International Women’s Day Exhibition », Watch This Space, Alice Springs (Australie)

1999. « Mina Mina », Hogarth Galleries, Sydney (Australie)

1999. « Desert Mob Show », Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs (Australie)

1998. « A Thousand Journeys », Tin Shed Gallery, University of Sydney, Sydney (Australie)

1998. Framed Gallery, Darwin (Australie)

1998. « Kurrawarri – Kirli », Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne (Australie)

1998. Art Gallery Culture Store, Rotterdam (Pays-Bas)

1997. Hogarth Gallery, Sydney (Australie)

1996. Sutton Gallery, Melbourne (Australie)

1995. Bellas Gallery, Brisbane (Australie)

1995. Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs (Australie)

1995. SOFA, Miami (États-Unis)

1994. « Echoes of the Dreamtime », Osaka (Japon)

1994. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (Australie)

1994. Armstrong Gallery, Floride (États-Unis)

1993. Adelaide Town Hall & The Pacific Arts Symposium, Adelaïde (Australie)

1993. « Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition » (États-Unis)

1993. « Northern Territory Art Award Exhibition », Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs (Australie)

1992. « Women’s Exhibition », The Women’s Gallery, Melbourne (Australie)

1992. Hogarth Gallery, Sydney (Australie)

1991. Darwin Performing Arts Centre, Darwin (Australie)

1990. « Women’s Exhibition », The Women’s Gallery, Melbourne (Australie)

1990. Darwin Performing Arts Centre, Darwin (Australie)

1989. « Yuendumu and Ramingining », Melbourne (Australie)