Antonia Napangardi Michaels

Antonia's hometown is Nyirripi, a remote Aboriginal community about 420km north-west of Alice Springs in the central desert region of the Northern Territory. She is a third-generation artist, with close family members who are significant Warlpiri artists. Antonia's grandmother is Alice Nampijinpa Henworth, and her parents are Andrea Nungarrayi Wilson and Chris Japanangka Michaels.

Antonia learnt to paint by watching her family, and as a teenager she picked up the brush and painted in her own right for Warlukurlangu, an Aboriginal owned art centre located in Yuendumu and Nyirripi. She attended school in Broome, and upon graduating returned to Nyirripi to work at the Learning Centre.

In her spare time Antonia continues to paint for Warlukulrangu and continues the great artist family tradition. Her subject matter is her Grandmother's Lappi Lappi Jukurrpa(Lappi Lappi Dreaming) and her father's Janganpa Jukurrpa (Bush-tailed Possum Dreaming).

In some works, Antonia uses a delightful range of bold contrasting colours, while at other times she uses a more muted colour palette with strong graphic designs.

When Antonia is not painting or working she loves to go hunting for bush tucker with family and friends.

Copyright Kate Owen Gallery, December 2022