born circa 1925
Language Group: Pintupi
Born near Naami WA
Ningura was born in the bush. She took her first journey out of the Gibson Desert in 1962 to Papunya with the northern Territory Welfare Branch Patrol After their son Morris received medical treatment at Papunya, Ningura and her husband Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi were transported back to their country, close to the present-day community of Kiwirrkurra. The following year she and her family group walked back to Papunya as pert of the general migration of Pintupi people from their country. She started painting full time after her husband passed away in1998. She paints her country Naami which is southwest of Kiwirrkurra in WA. Ningura died in November 2013.

Ningura’s status as one of the premier desert artists was cemented when she was chosen as the sole female artist to paint the ceiling of the acclaimed Musee du quai Banly in Paris. She is represented in many of the major public galleries both nationally and internationally.

About the painting -
Women’s Ceremony- Naami
This painting depicts the site of Naami. The solid black circles represent rock formations and rock holes that are scattered around the sand hills. The grid lines around the outside of the painting represent the sand hills, which dominate this country. The U shapes represent the women sitting down preparing bush tucker and grinding ochres for ceremonies. This painting depicts the preparation by the women for a ceremony to call for a bountiful season for bush tucker. The wheel shaped objects are the body painting style associated with the ceremony. The round red objects are bura or bush pears, these are eaten at the ceremony.