Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (Mrs Bennett)
Born: circa 1935 Birthsite: Yumari North, Docker River, W.A.
Language: Pintupi/Pitjantatjarra‐Ngaatjatjarra
Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (aka Mrs. Bennett) is an important artist represented in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artbank Sydney, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, National Gallery of Victoria, and corporate and private collections in Australia and around the world.
Mrs Bennett was married to the late John John Tjapangati Bennett (a Pintupi speaker from Mukulurru, also north of Docker River). She was a participant in the Kintore‐Haasts Bluff collaborative canvas project in 1994. This resulted in an exhibition titled ‘Minyma Tjukurrpa’ held at the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in 1995. Other exhibitions of her works include Twenty‐five Years and Beyond’ (1999) and Australia Perspecta (1999).
Nyurapayia favours the use of strong contrasts using blacks and pale yellows/creams set in relief against a red ground. Her designs are based on the stories relating to women’s ceremony and often depict the gathering of traditional bush foods and the rituals that are connected with their preparation. The depictions of the sand dune country and surrounding rocky outcrops bear a relationship to the designs used for body painting during the ceremonial dance referred to as ‘inma’. Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa was named among the top 50 of Australia's Most Collectable Artists in Australian Art Collector, issue 15, January – March, 2001.