Pirlinyanu, 2004 by Julie Nangala Robertson 198x61cm Cat 8872JR

Julie depicts her Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming), which is associated with her father’s traditional country of Pirlinyanu, a rocky outcrop in the Tanami Desert, west of Yuendumu and towards the WA border.

This rocky country with its significant waterholes and plentiful bush tucker is one of many significant locations for the Water Dreaming because if you know which rocks to move you always have access to fresh water in the deep natural occurring wells of Pirlinyanu. Without this knowledge one could imagine there was no water in this desert landscape.

Using an aerial perspective and distinctive monochromatic palette, Julie’s paintings have become works of extraordinary optical brilliance. In acknowledgement, she was awarded Best Painting category in the Telstra Aboriginal Art Award in August 2023.

The eldest of the five daughters of Dorothy Napangardi Robinson has recently changed the spelling of her surname from Robinson to Robertson, as she feels that her father, Windy, had misspelt their surname, as Julie's other relatives in Yuendumu are all Robertson.