Lorna Naparrula Fencer was born circa 1924 at Yartulu Yartulu in the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory. She was custodian of her traditional homelands at Yumurrpa.
Lorna spent her early years living a traditional life until, in 1949 many Warlpiri people, including Lorna, were forcibly transported to the government settlement of Lajamanu approximately 400 kms north of their homelands.
Many Warlpiri people walked the 800 km back their homeland, only to be forcibly returned once more, thereby creating a deep sense of disempowerment and loss
Despite this, the Warlpiri elders kept their customs and ceremonies alive with a fierce determination. Lorna Napurrula maintained and strengthened her cultural identity through ceremonial activity asserting her position as a prominent elder and teacher in the community.
Lorna began painting on canvas in the mid 1980’s, prior to which she painted on traditional women’s coolamons and digging sticks for ceremony and for sale.
The travels of Naparrula and Nakamarra skin groups are the inspiration for Lorna Napurrula’s work. She is custodian of the Dreaming stories associated with Bush Potato (Yala), Caterpillar (Luju), Bush Onion, Yam (Warputi), Bush Tomato and Bush Plum.
Lorna also had ancestral rights over the Water Snake, which become numerous when the country is in flood and the riverbeds and claypans fill importantly with water.
The combination of her unrivalled knowledge of tribal law and dreamings, along with her intuitive use of colour and free gestural brush strokes in telling her stories, has led to comparisons with the late Emily Kngwarreye (from Utopia).
Yet, Lorna’s work is decidedly and uniquely her own. Her works are known for their abstract and bold designs that feature strong and vivid colours.
Sadly, Lorna passed away in 2006. In 2007 she was named as one of Australia’s 50 most collectable artists by the Art Collector Magazine.
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