Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi
SOLD PAINTINGS
DOB: 1974
BORN: Santa Teresa, NT
LANGUAGE GROUP: Eastern Arrernte
COMMUNITY: Utopia, NT
Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi was born April 24th 1974, in Alice Springs; she was raised by Kathleen Wallace, spending time both in Alice Springs and Santa Teresa Community, southeast of Alice Springs. Her fathers’ country is Annamurra near Harts Range, north east of Alice Springs and her mother’s country is Arrulka near Coniston, west of Alice Springs. She is married to Colin Bird, from the Mulga Bore Outstation in the Utopia Region, and has 5 children: 4 boys and 1 girl. Colleen lives between Alice Springs and Mulga Bore, as Collins’ family still resides at the outstation, and their children attend the Mulga Bore School.
Colleen began painting in 1990 under the tutelage of her aunties Gabriella and Kathleen Wallace. Her paintings relate to the Pencil Yam Story – Arlatyeye. She also paints awelye – women’s ceremony and Dreamtime Sisters who dance the stories surrounding the Pencil Yam Dreaming.
Colleen’s paintings can be found in many private collections in Australia and overseas. Her work has been represented in many group exhibitions.