Imitjala Pollard

Imitjala Pollard is the daughter of senior law woman and noted artist, Wipana Jimmy (dec). She was born bush at Tjatja, near Ernabella, in 1963.

Imitjala is also the daughter-in-law of Telstra Award Winner, Ngoia Pollard Nampitjinpa (dec). She was married at Ernabella and then followed her family group to Fregon and onto the remote South Australia community of Watarru in the mid 1980s. At the time, her mother Wipana and other elders were setting up the Watarru homelands.

Imitjala started painting in 1995. When the Tjungu Palya art centre was established in Nyapari in 2006, artists from the three communities of Kanpi, Nyapari and Watarru came together to paint, including Imitjala, her sisters and mother.

Today she is best known for her contribution to collaborative pieces done by artists from the Watarru community which includes her sisters Anne Dixon Nangala (dec), Bronwyn Jimmy and Beryl Jimmy (dec). Together these women known as the 'Watarru Collaborative' depict grand creation stories.

Their paintings show a particular sensitivity to the way these Dreamings interact with and shape their beloved homeland, and its many unique land formations. The Watarru Collaborative were finalists in the 2016 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards with a piece that depicted their home, the rocky hills, waterholes and travelling lines that people would travel on foot in the old days.

Imitjala has a distinct mark-making and dotting style, creating bold and dynamic artworks. They are filled with deep cultural integrity and a love and knowledge of Country.

Paintings by Imitjala are represented in collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Nevada Art Museum (USA), Peter Cooke Collection (UK) and South Australian Parliament.

As well as being a successful painter, Imitjala is also a weaver of baskets and sculptural works. She has also been a Watarru Land Management Ranger for the APY Lands.

Imitjala has two children, artist Katrina Pollard Nampitjinpa and a son.



Copyright Kate Owen Gallery, May 2023