Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/myra-nungarrayi-patrick

Birth Place

Willowra, NT, Australia

Biography

Born at Willowra c.1946. Her country is Wirliyajarrayi (Two Feet), which is the Warlpiri name for Willowra. She paints Mala, Juwurrpa, Ngatijirri (Bush Budgerigar), Witi/kurlarda (Spear/Pole) – from Kurlangalimpa (Duck Pond), Jurdiya (Snake), Ngalyipi (Snake Vine), Jurlpa (Butcher Bird), Watiya and Karrkarrdu (Cockatoo) Dreamings, some of these in conjunction with her husband, Freddy Patrick Jangala – they often paint sitting down together, though mostly they do separate paintings. They live just outside of Lajamanu settlement. Myra started painting in 1986. Her work is immediately identifiable by her absolutely miniscule dots, which were part of Myra’s conscious development of her own individualistic style. Minute dots are now a familiar technique, but few have used them with such subtle refinement. She collects tiny twigs and sharpens them to do the dots. She estimates that she takes about five weeks to complete a canvas. By the early ’90s Myra had developed RSI from painting, and was told to quit, but refused to. Her work is like pointillism, but with assymmetrical qualities that distinguish it from pop art. She has worked these effects on pottery for an exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1990. A Botany glass factory has also signed a contract with Myra Patrick and Marjorie Watson to blow their designs into glass. Writers: Johnson, Vivien Date written: 1994 Last updated: 2011

Born

b. c.1946

Summary

Myra Patrick started painting in 1986. Her work consists of absolutely miniscule dots which she paints with sharpened tiny twigs. Despite developing RSI as a consequence of her painstaking process, the artist refused to stop working and a number of her designs have been transferred onto pottery and glass.

Gender

Female

Died

None listed

Age at death

None listed