Mavis Ngallametta

Mavis Ngallametta (also known as Waal-Waal Ngallametta), née Marbunt, was an indigenous Australian painter and weaver. She was a Putch clan elder and a cultural leader of the Wik and Kugu people of Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula, Far North Queensland. Her work is held in national and state collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide and Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.

Early life and education

Ngallametta was removed from her family at the age of five and grew up in the dormitories of Aurukun Mission. She maintained connections with her family, learning to weave dilly bags and fruit bowls, made from cabbage palm and pandanus, from her mother and aunty.

Career

Mavis Ngallametta was initially recognised for her mastery of weaving in traditional materials. While attending a workshop at the Wik and Kugu Art Centre, run by Gina Allain, she began making small paintings depicting important cultural sites. Larger paintings refer to the changing seasons as well as specific sites including Ikalath, where she collected the white clay Yalgamungken, for the vibrant local ochres; her traditional country, the coastal side of Kendall River, which she was able to view from the air; Wutan, a camping site belonging to her adopted son Edgar; and various pamp, or swamps, around Aurukun. Ngallametta painted with traditional materials, including ochres, clays and charcoal, which she collected herself. Between 2011 and 2019, she created 46 monumental paintings. According to Sally Butler: "nearly every major public and private art collection in Australia" acquired one of these large-scale paintings between 2011 and 2014.

Work

Major exhibitions

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art is hosting the first major retrospective of Ngallametta's work in 21 March - 2 August 2020.[1]

Public and private collections[9]

• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
• Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
• Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane[2]
• Griffith University, Brisbane
• University of Queensland, Brisbane
• Parliament House Collection, Canberra
• The Pat Corrigan Collection
• Holmes à Court Collection
• The Ray Wilson Collection
• The Kerry Stokes Collection
• The Wesfarmers Collection

Awards and nominations[9][8]

• 2004 Community Arts Achievement Award, Western Cape College, Weipa, Queensland
• 2013 Telstra General Painting Award
• 2018 Red Ochre Award, the Australia Council's distinguished award for a lifetime of achievement.