Ursula Napangardi Marks

Ursula Marks, skin name Napangardi, is a lead artist of the younger Lajamanu generation, and has already achieved great success in Australia and overseas, particularly with her distinct bold white minimalist art.

Napangardi is a proud Warlpiri woman, who has always lived in Lajamanu, which is the most northern part of the Tanami desert and Warlpiri land. Her art has been greatly influenced by her mentors, including some of Warnayaka’s most historically successful artists: Lily Nungarrayi Hargraves, Kitty Napanangka Simon and Rosie Napurrurla Tasman and Molly Napurrurla Tasman.

Her artwork, informed by her cultural history, often features kurruwarri (sacred marks) that is typically painted on a person’s body for ceremony. Napangardi is a custodian of her family’s Jukurrpa (Dreaming) and remains active in important cultural ceremonies. She is one of many Warnayaka artists that has expressed their freedom and individuality by moving beyond traditional Aboriginal painting techniques to explore more contemporary styles.

Napangardi’s art has been exhibited in Darwin, Sydney and Brisbane galleries, as well as internationally in New York, USA and London, England. In 2022, she had a highly successful solo exhibition at Brisbane’s Suzanne O’Connell Gallery.

Ursula works at Warnakaya Art Centre. Warnayaka Art is located in the remote community of Lajamanu on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory. Established in the 1980s, the art centre supports Warlpiri artists to share their stories through painting, artefacts and evolving contemporary practices.

Warnayaka is governed by a Board of Warlpiri Directors and supported by the next generation of artists from the community. Their works are bold, confident and deeply connected to culture, Country and Jukurrpa (Dreaming). Warnayaka artists exhibit across Australia and internationally.

Art sales directly support their artists and help sustain Warnayaka as a vital community hub in Lajamanu.

You can find Ursula’s artwork work HERE and information on Warnayaka Art Centre HERE