Stumpy Brown

Now one of the most celebrated and distinctive of the Kimberley artists from the Fitzroy Crossing region, Nyuju Stumpy Brown is a Wangkajunga woman who was born on the Canning Stock Route Stock Route at place called Ngapawarlu around 1924.

Stumpy is a full sister to the late artist Rover Thomas. She lost her mother and father at an early age and was raised by her uncle, Jamali who was droving bullocks on the Canning Stock Route. He took Nyuju to Balgo Hills when she was a little girl and later returned to Fitzroy Crossing where Nyuju grew up and lived most of her life.
Stumpy says: “My country is desert county. There are no rivers we never see running water like rivers, only creeks after the rain, only jilji (sandhills).” When I was a young girl I came to Balgo on a Camel. This was the first time I came from the bush. Later I worked in the kitchen at Bohemia Downs Station. We got no money for the work. We got tea, meat and tobacco.”

Nyuju is a senior law woman and traditional owner and custodian of Ngupawarlu She distinguished herself as one of the leading artists at Karrayili Community school in the mid 1980’s. Her works were first exhibited in the Mangkaja Arts group exhibition, “Karrayili” at Tandanya Arts Centre, Adelaide, in 1991. They were later featured in Images of Power: Aboriginal art of the Kimberley, National Gallery of Victoria.

Like most of the other women artists working through the Mangkaja Arts Centre, Stumpy worked almost exclusively on paper. Recently, Stumpy has been painting on canvas with startling effect. Her work has blossomed to meet the challenges of the larger scale and medium and she has attracted an even larger audience for her stunning, vibrant paintings.

Stumpy’s inspired and sure use of strong colour on her canvasses has established her as one of the best and most collectable of the artists from the Kimberley. Already represented in the National Gallery and many private collections, Stumpy is currently producing some of the best work of her distinguished career.

Today Stumpy lives mostly at Wangkatjungka Community, about 120 kilometres from Fitzroy Crossing, with her husband Hitler Pamba. Her paintings are well recognized from extensive exhibitions with other leading artists from Fitzroy Crossing. She maintains a senior role in law business relating to traditional Wangkatjungka lands and customs.