Polly Ngala

BORN: c 1940 REGION: UTOPIA- NORTHERN TERRITORY LANGUAGE GROUP: ANMATYERR

Polly Ngala was born in 1940 into the Anmatyarr tribe. She was married to Ray Yeramba (deceased) and now lives at Camel Camp on Utopia with her family, and sisters Kathleen Ngala, Maisy Ngala and Angeline Pwerle Ngala.

Like many of the women in Utopia, Polly began her artistic career in batik, before venturing into painting with acrylic paints on canvas. She often assisted her sister Kathleen and also the late Emily Kngwarreye Kame with whom she shared the same country. Arlparra is her country from her father’s side and her mother came from Ngwelay, commonly known as Kurrajong Bore. Together with her sisters, Polly is a senior custodian of the Bush Plum (Arnwekety) Dreaming. Polly depicts the Bush Plum and it’s effects on her country. She often depicts the topography in shades of reds, oranges and yellows reflecting the varying seasonal palette. Like her sister Kathleen, she builds up layer upon layer of colour creating a multi-dimensional effect to reveal the Bush Plum in all its glory.

COLLECTIONS

The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth. The World Bank, Washington, USA
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne and many more