Charlotte Phillipus Napurrula
I’ve seen a lot of sandhills. When we sat with them – the elders – we watched and learned. We used to listen when Father told the old stories. Even Grandmother told us stories too. I do paintings about talijarra (sandhills) I used to do paintings like my Father - old way, on boards. From there, I saw how it is and I thought: I’ll do sandhills.”
— CHARLOTTE PHILLIPUS NAPURRULA
CHARLOTTE PHILLIPUS NAPURRULA WAS BORN IN HAASTS BLUFF/IKUNTJI IN 1957, DAUGHTER OF LONG JACK PHILLIPUS TJAKAMARRA, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ACCLAIMED PAPUNYA TULA ARTISTS.
Over the years painting at Papunya Tjupi, Charlotte has developed her own unique and meticulous version of Kalipinypa Kapi Tjukurrpa (Water Dreaming) that focuses on the tali (sand) aspect of her country. She often paints this story as large scale works with a reductive palette of only two colours, allowing for the shimmering line work Charlotte is so well regarded for to take centre stage.
Charlotte also paints her own distinct style of children’s stories that she developed when working at the Papunya School. Many of her illustrations can be found in the archive of the school from the days when teaching in traditional language was encouraged. Occasionally Charlotte will apply her children’s stories as dot paintings on canvas.
A finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (2018) and Hadley’s Art Prize (2018) Charlotte’s work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne and the University of Western Sydney, Sydney.
