Biography

(Yulurlu) Lorna Fencer Napurrula was born in 1920 in Yumurrpa country, which is situated near the Granites in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. Her main dreamings are Yarla, Wapirti and Marlujarra. These Dreamings entitle her to paint subjects such as the bush yam (sweet potato), “ngalatji” (little white flower), bush tomato, caterpillar, wallaby and certain men’s stories including boomerangs. The Yarla (Yam) Dreaming depicts the track where traditionally women looked for Yams. The track originates from the Granites region and travels north toward Lajamanu. The caterpillar dreamings are usually bright depictions of leaves eaten by the caterpillar.

Her substantial contribution to the western desert indigenous art movement is documented and celebrated in a 2011 traveling exhibition and accompanying book, Yulyurlu, featuring her paintings and essays by Barbara Ambjerg Pedersen, Chips Mackinolty and Christine Nicholls.

Lorna typically painted with acrylics on primed Belgian linen or unstretched cotton duck. Her artifacts include coolamons, kudurru (fighting sticks), quartz rocks and slate.

Collections
Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Artbank, Sydney
Australian Heritage Commission Collection, Canberra
Christensen Collection, held by Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Motiers, Switzerland
Gantner Myer Collection of Aboriginal Art
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Gold Coast
Hank Ebes Collection, Melbourne
Holmes a Court Collection, Perth
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth
Laverty Collection, Sydney
Leewuin Estate, Perth
Margaret Carnegie Collection
Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Darwin
Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne