Bessie Nakamarra Sims
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About the Artist
Artwork is accompanied by Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendumu) Art Centre Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance
c. 1930's - 2012
"I like painting cause it’s my Dreaming – Bush Carrot, Yam Dreaming…From my father and grandfather’s side. I like to teach kids my Dreaming. I want everyone to know my Dreaming from all over the world. I know and they can know…”
Bessie Nakamarra Sims was born in the bush in the 1930s and lived for many years before coming into contact with white people at Mt. Doreen Station, west of Yuendumu. She lived in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia, where she died in 2012.
Bessie was the wife of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec), a renowned international artist. Bessie did not live in her famous husband’s shadow, for her own work has long been widely admired and collected. Bessie has seven children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bessie was one of the most valued members of the Warlukurlangu Artists Community. She painted consistently with Warlukurlangu Artists since the centre was first established in 1985 and has exhibited both nationally and internationally in Group Exhibitions since 1986.She painted her Jukurrpa stories, Dreamings which relate directly to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it.
Besides painting Bessie was an active member of Yuendumu Night patrol which helps keep Yuendumu a safe community. In her spare time she used to loved hunting for wardapi (goanna) and bush tucker such as yarla (bush potato) and yakajirri (bush tomato).
She passed away in Yuendumu in May 2012 surrounded by her extended family. Some of her last words were: “Japaljarri” (her husband) is calling me, he is waiting for me”.
Selected Collections
- Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
- Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
- Flinders University Collection, Adelaide
- Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
- South Australian Museum, Adelaide
- Donald Kahn Collection, USA
- Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Scotland
- Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht
- Gordon Darling Foundation, Canberra
- Newmont Mining, USA
Selected Exhibitions
1986
- Editions Gallery, Perth
- Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
- R.S.A.S.A. Gallery, Adelaide
1987
- Chapman Gallery, Canberra
- Roar Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
- Opera House Gallery, Sydney
1988
- Caz Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
- Dreamtime Gallery, Perth
- Lewis-Wara Gallery, Seattle, U.S.A.
1989
- Chesser Gallery, Adelaide
- Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
1990
- Hogarth Gallery of Dreams, Sydney
- 'Women's Exhibition', The Women's Gallery, Melbourne
1991
- Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
- Albert Hall, Canberra
- Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
1992
- Alliance Francais, Canberra
- The Haven Gallery, Melbourne
- Chapman Gallery, Canberra
1993
- 'Jukurrpa, Desert Dreamings’, Art Gallery of WA, Perth
-'Aratjara - Art Of The First Australians', Germany
- 'Dreaming the World', St. Mungo's Museum, Glasgow
- 'Aratjara', Hayward Gallery, London
- CINAFE (Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition), U.S.A.
1994
- ‘Desertracks’, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
- The Assembly Hall of the Territorial Parliament, Tahiti
- Inter-American Art Gallery, Miami, Florida, U.S.A
- Chicago Art Fair, Chicago, U.S.A
1995
- Cleveland Centre for Contempoary Art, Ohio, U.S.A.
- Cultureel Centrum Berchem, Antwerp
- INMA Foundation, Amsterdam
1996
- Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
- World Vision, Sydney
1997
- Art Gallery NSW, Festival of the Dreaming, Sydney
- Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
1998
- Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
- Framed Gallery, Darwin
1999
- ‘Mina Mina’ Show, Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
- ‘L'art des Aborigenes d'Australie’, Theatre de Narbonnes France
2000
- Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne
- ‘L'art des Aborigenes d'Australie’, Marie d' Allonnes, France
- World Baptist Conference, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
- ‘Marking the Paper’, Desart Gallery, Sydney
2001
- ‘Desert Mob’ Araluen Art Centre and Gallery Alice Springs
2002
- Indigenart, Perth, WA
- Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle, Washington USA
-‘The Warlukurlangu Collection’, Parliament House Canberra
-‘Dreamings: Land and Ceremony’, Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
2003
- Warlukurlangu Artists, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
- Black and White, Colour: seeing country in two ways, Counihan Gallery, Melbourne
-‘Yimi Pirrijirdi - Strong Stories’, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne
- 'Kurruwarri Wirijarlu – Big Story’ Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
2004
- 'Little Warlu, Big Stories, Hot Little paintings by Big artists of Yuendumu', - Australia’s NT & Outback Centre, Sydney
- Jeffrey Moose February Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA
- ‘Dreaming Stories', Indigenart, Perth
- 'New Works from Yuendumu', Bellas Gallery, Brisbane
- 'Recent Works from Yuendumu', Hogarth Gallery, Sydney
2005
- 'Warlukurlangu Group Show', Canberra, ACT
- 'Masterpieces of Aboriginal Art, Flinders Lane Gallery,
Melbourne
- ‘WAAA Collection’ Flinders Museum, Adelaide, SA
- 'Jukurrpa Wiri ‘Important Dreaming Stories’, Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, NT
- 'Divas of the Desert', Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT
- Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2006
- 'Open Doors', Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht
- 'Divas of the Desert', Gallery Gondwana, Sydney, NSW
- Senior Women's Show, Gadfly Gallery, Perth
- Recent Works, Suzanne O'Connell Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
- Sister's Dreaming, Kwanhoon Gallery, South Korea
- Journey to Mina Mina, Gallery Gondwana, Sydney, NSW
- Warlpiri Artists of Yuendumu, Japingka Gallery, Perth, WA
- Summery Survey, Hogarth Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2007
- ‘Paperweight’, Suzanne O'Connell Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
- Opera House Show, Hogarth Gallery, Sydney, NSW
- Annual Women's Show, Vivienne Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
Current local time at Gallery
Opening Hours
Saturday: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Sunday: Closed
Call Us
1300 362 551 
+61 8 9168 1881
Current local time at Gallery
-
Mon - Fri: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Opening Hours
Saturday: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Sunday: Closed -
Call Us
1300 362 551
+61 8 9168 1881
10 Papuana St, Kununurra,
Western Australia, 6743 Australia
