Colleen Wallace Nungurrayi / Dreamtime Sisters (CW03)

Colleen Wallace Nungurrayi was born in 1974 in Santa Teresa, a small community located approximately 85km south east of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. A former gold mining town and Catholic mission in the 1950s, Santa Teresa is also known as Ltyentye Apurte in Eastern Arrernte language.

Although a self-taught artist, Colleen emerges from a family of talented Eastern Arrente painters, including her stepmother, Kathleen, the famous Keringke artist, and her sisters, Gabrielle and Cindy Wallace. Colleen has been painting since the early 90’s.

Through her vibrant and intricately detailed pieces, Colleen tells the story of the ‘Dreamtime Sisters’: three Eastern Arrernte spirits that are said to have first roamed and formed the earth during the Creation time. For Colleen and all Nungarrayi people, these sisters guide them and watch over the Sacred Sites of their Country.

Colleen also paints ‘Bush Yam Dreaming’, a ‘Jukurrpa’ or Dreaming story that was passed on to her by her grandfather, Kenny Tilmouth Panangka.

Colleen lives at Mulga Bore, Utopia with her husband Colin Bird (son of senior Utopian artist Ada Bird Petyarre) and their five children.

Colleen’s paintings have featured in Australian and international exhibitions and are held in many private collections.

Colleen tells the story of the ‘Dreamtime Sisters’: three Eastern Arrernte spirits that are said to have first roamed and formed the earth during the Creation time. For Colleen and all Nungarrayi people, these sisters guide them and watch over the Sacred Sites of their Country.