Polly Napangardi Watson

Polly Napangardi was a Senior Law Women and as such was responsible for all facets of painting ceremonies. She passed away in early 2006.

She formally began painting in the late 1980’s and was schooled by Rene Robinson. One definitive highlight and specialty of her present work rests in her ability to bring to life with her dreaming paintings the visual nature, contour and structure of her paintings.

Moreover, Polly has the innate capacity to meld together the earthy and definitive skill of her craft to her deep understanding and perspective associated with her culture. This interaction is seen and felt through the rigorous high quality standard of work she sets for herself.

The end result to this mastery is a transmutation of visual feeling onto the canvas making her paintings almost appear three dimensional.

Polly is responsible for a number of dreamings. These are Water, Honey Ant, Kangaroo, Marsupial Mouse, Bilby, Mulga seed, Goanna, Kingfisher, Bush Orange & Women’s Dreaming.

Polly’s ancestral land stretches out into the Tanami desert. However, the bulk of her work encompasses three traditional sites. These are Purtulu, Mount Doreen and the Pikilyi site. Many dreamings converge on these sites especially the latter since this area has a permanent water supply that is bordered by hilly terrain. Polly’s work has been exhibited throughout Australia and in many places around the world, particularly in Western Europe and in North America: Australian Embassy Washington 1999 United Nations building New York City 1999