Veronica Lulu NAPANGARTI Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1952 -

Veronica’s mother Bababala (bush name) belonged to the country of Walgalli, near Yagga Yagga, on the Wangatjungka side. Her creation story is the Seven Sisters Dreaming. Her father Wirru (bush name) is Walmatjarri and his country was Purraku (Lake Gregory), in the region of Tjurraballen. Veronica paints the creation story of Mungi the flower that is abundant in this region. When Veronica was born, her family lived at Lake Stretch, where they lived a traditional life collecting bush tucker and bush medicine.

Veronica saw white people for the first time when she was about five years old. When Veronica was a young girl, she was taken away to the live at old mission, while her parents lived at Billiluna community some 250kms away. Veronica trained as a domestic worker and it was there that she met her husband, Eddie Calyon. Subsequentially, Veronica had eight children: three girls and five boys. In 1973, one of her sons died at the age of four weeks old in a car accident in which Veronica also incurred severe injuries.

Veronica is a very strong culture woman and dancer, and an enthusiastic teacher of culture to children, ensuring the traditional dances and songs are kept alive. All of her six living children are painters, they are strongly encouraged by Veronica.

Veronica holds a senior position in the community of Mulan. She is a Marpan (traditional healer) and is an active community representative with land right issues and works closely with The IPA (Indigenous Protected Area) Council.

Veronica commenced painting in 1979 and began to emerge as a leading artist in the late 1990s. Her paintings are mainly concerned with her traditional country.