Maureen Poulson Napangardi

Maureen Napangardi Poulson and her sister Alice live in Papunya where they paint for Papunya Tjupi Arts. The sisters older brother Brogas Tjapangarti, who now lives in Alice Springs, painted for Papunya Tula Artists in the 1970s and early 1980s. Their father – whose father was also called Brogas – was Jimmy Tjukurrpa, a Ngaliya man whose country was Kunatjarri and Pikilyi. Their mother was Pilyari Napurrula, a sister of Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula, who shared with him country around Ilpilli, Kalipinypa and Tjikari which Maureen and her siblings also share. Brogas, born c. 1949, was the eldest of Jimmy and Pilyari’s children, then Alice, then Maureen, who was born in Haasts Bluff, then another daughter and two more sons, all born in papunya. Maureen grew up in Haasts Bluff and went to school there and then in Papunya after the family moved there in 1960. She later worked at the school as a cleaner. She has lived at Papunya ever since. She married and has two sons and two daughters but yet no grandchildren. She only started painting in 2008. She says she paints for enjoyment.