Jukuja Nora Tjookootja - Nomad Art

Artist: Jukuja Nora Tjookootja
Art Centre: Mangkaja Arts
Region: Kimberley

Artwork Story

I was born in the 1930s at Pirrparr in the Great Sandy Desert and lived there with my parents an grandparents. My father had three wives. My brother died when I was a baby and my family left Pirrparr and walked into Old Balgo mission. I grew up around the mission, moving between Billilun and Yagga Yagga.

I married and moved to Wangkajunga with my husband and baby son Albert. I have one sister and three brothers, who have all passed away except a brother who lives at Billiluna.

I attend an Adult Education centre in Wangkajunga which was set up in 1994 to teach basic numeracy, literacy and spoken English. We were able to use the art materials there and so I began to paint. The Wangkajunga artists have been exhibiting since 1994.

After that I began painting for Mangkaja Art Centre at the studio in Fitzroy Crossing.