Molly Napaltjarri Jugadai

Maluya Jugadai (Molly) is the eldest daughter of Narputta Nangala.

Maluya was instrumental in the establishement of Ikuntji Art Centre in 1992 and has been a staunch supporter and practising artist at the studio ever since.

Maluya was born under a Ngalta tree about three kilometres west of the existing Haasts Bluff community in 1954, shortly after the establishment of the mission community of the period.

A Napaltjarri skin woman, Maluya in her first decade of artistry initially painted the story of the “Napaltjarri Children (or Sisters)” who came in space ships to earth thousands of years ago. They represent the first people on earth. The children travel the country every night seeking dew and mungari amid the vegetation of the desert.

Due to illness her mother, Narputta, has granted Molly permission to paint the story of the massive saltlake, Kaarkurutintya (Lake MacDonald), which is the sacred country of Narputta.

Surrounded by tali, or sand hills, the lake is mostly depicted during the dry season, but is sometimes painted as it appears after heavy rains.  Molly passed away in 2011.

Molly is no longer painting, she resides in a Aged care home at Alice Springs