Eileen Bird Nungarai / Yam Dreaming

An Eastern Arrernte artist painting since the mid-1990s. Her wider practice explores women gathering bush foods and the ceremonies connected to her Country and family traditions. Her artworks portray women gathering bush foods from the region and women’s ceremonies associated with her Country. Eileen (Nungarai) was born c. 1955 in the Bush Park Region of the Northern Territory.

She is an Eastern Arrernte woman and spent formative years at Harts Range where many of her lineage continue to live. Eileen’s late husband was artist Paddy Bird, the eldest son of renowned artist Ada Bird Petyarre. They have eleven children (the eldest is artist Maggie Bird Mpetyane) and many grandchildren.