Phyllis Thomas - Nomad Art

Artist: Phyllis Thomas
Art Centre: Warmun Art Centre
Region: Kimberly

Artwork Story

Phyllis Thomas was born at a place called Riyarr on the Turner River, south east of Purnululu. When young she worked on Turner Station looking after poultry, gardening, grinding salt and carting water from the well. However she often preferred to run away into the bush with the old women to hunt, collect dingo scalps and look for gold.

Phyllis is a Gija woman of Nagarra skin whose bush name, Booljoonngali, means ‘big rain coming down with lots of wind’. She began painting when Freddie Timms set up the Jirrawun Aboriginal Arts group in 1998, and today she continues to paint with Warmun Arts.

Her work has been acquired by a number of collectors and galleries, including a special focus purchase of five paintings by the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) in 2000.