Nora Nocketta Nagarra / Purnululu

(c. 1935 – 2015)

Nora was born on Turner River Station, south of Purnululu in the East Kimberley c.1935. Her full sister is Phyllis Thomas, also a senior artist at Turkey Creek (Warmun). Nora worked on Turner River Station as a youngster, carrying out the normal station duties of feeding and looking after the nanny goats, then domestic duties as she became older.

Nora was a specialist dot artist and her medium was bush ochre. The technique she used is unfortunately becoming more difficult to acquire, as the younger artists prefer the landscape painting. The content of her paintings consist of Turner Station (Kartang Rija) and Purnululu to Turkey Creek. Her knowledge of the land from her early days of walking through it with her family was extensive and her paintings reflect this.

Nora lived at Warmun Community until she passed away in 2015. Her paintings have been collected worldwide and her works are highly sort after as they reflect traditional dot art beautifully executed.

Selected Exhibitions

2007
– ‘Greetings From Turkey Creek’, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2006
– ‘Little Ochres – Paintings from the East Kimberley, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
– ‘Warmun Art Centre Presents’, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW
– ‘Group Warmun Exhibition’, Hogarth Galleries, Sydney, NSW

2005
– ‘The Two Nora’s’, Art Mob, Tasmania (with Nora Wompi)
– ‘Group Warmun Exhibition’, Gadfly Gallery, Perth, WA
– ‘Group Warmun Exhibition’, Span Galleries, Melbourne, VIC

1999
– ‘Ngurrara’, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
– ‘Bush Garden’ Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
– Hogarth Galleries, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
– Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA

This is Purnululu Country (Bungle Bungles). This is my country all around here, Turner River Way. The top country has high mountains and the highest is Nyidbarriya, right up north – that one stands out for a long way and was used by the whitefellas when they were mustering around here on Tickelara and Hann Springs (cattle stations). Further to the south are the Piccaninny Bungles (pictured here), all little hills looking the same. You can get lost there you know. I have painted my country in dry time. We don’t go up this way much now like we used to when we were younger. Little bit too far and we’re not as strong now. But these days people from all over Australia and all over the World visit here – they are loving this country just like we do.