Skip to content
  • 9am–5pm
  • Free general admission
  • Shop
Shop now
Portrait of Jakayu Biljabu. - click to view larger image

born about 1937, Manyjilyjarra language group, Purungu skin group, Punmu community, Martumili Artists

Jakayu was born near Pitu, east of Well 25, and grew up around Kunawarritji, Rarrki and Nyilangkurr, where her father died.

In 1963, with her husband and extended family, she met the surveyor Len Beadell, who was grading roads for the Woomera rocket range.

This meeting prompted them to join their relatives who were living at Jigalong mission.

In 1982 Jakayu moved to Punmu community, where she lives today with her children and grandchildren.

A multicolour painting on brown linen with three red C shapes outlined in yellow, white, beige and blue dots, in a line diagonally across the painting. To the right of these is a blue circle and orange rectangle motif, then a rounded rectangular shape filled with red and yellow horizontal lines with a blue outlined rectangle at the top. At the top of the painting there are seven concentric oval in red, yellow, blue, green and purple. The lower part of the painting has a pale section to the right and a yellow, beige and red dot filled section to the left. Text at the top left reads '122 x 76cm DS + JB/73/MM' and at the lower left edge reads '48 x 30'. - click to view larger image

Kumpupirntily
A painting on brown linen with a white dot edged light blue circle from which emanates three lines in stripes of red yellow, black and white dots. The vertical line has a filling of red and green horizontal lines with white and yellow dots on some edges and fillings. To the left side of the painting are five red and beige shapes with pale pink or dark red dotted edges. Below this is a section of yellow, white, green and dark red dots. On the right lower side of the painting is a section with rows of white and dark red dots below a section of closely filled yellow and beige dots. Above the horizontal lines with the blue circle in the centre is a section of green, light pink, maroon, white, yellow and beige. - click to view larger image

Wikirri
Canning Stock Route and Surrounding Country 2008 by Kumpaya Girgaba, Ngamaru Bidu, Mabel Warkarta, Nola Taylor, Thelma Judson, Marjorie Yates, Dulcie Gibbs, Yuwali Janice Nixon, Rosie Williams, Nora Nangapa, Bugai Whylouter, Nora Wompi, Jakayu Biljabu and Morika Biljabu, Martumili Artists. Acrylic on canvas. - click to view larger image

Canning Stock Route and Surrounding Country
A textured acrylic painting on linen canvas with a curve of white concentric U shapes flowing from the lower left corner to the top right with a dotted background of pink, purple, yellow, red and green. In the top left are 17 variously sized oval-shaped concentric rings close together with yellow and green dots around them. The bottom right has a purple curved line with three green circles with orange, red and brown borders below it. In the lower central area there are circles in green with dotted orange centres and yellow circles with brown edges connected by lines on a background of cream, orange, yellow and brown dots. - click to view larger image

Minyipuru
Martumili Ngurra by Kumpaya Girgaba, Jakayu Biljabu, Ngamaru Bidu, Thelma Judson, Nola Taylor and Jane Girgaba, Martumili Artists, 2009. Acrylic on linen. - click to view larger image

Martumili Ngurra

Explore other artists

View more
Clifford Brooks
Morika Biljabu
Lungkurra Renette Biljabu
Jarran Jan Billycan
Pampirla Hansen Boxer

Explore more on Yiwarra Kuju

Artworks
Background
Essays
Education resources
More

You may also like

Warakurna
Yalangbara: Art of the Djang’kawu
Sydney Warrane
Painting on Country
Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia
Return to Top