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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

My life la Gilbun, 2020

Shirley Purdie

Darling Portrait Prize 2020 Finalist

My life la Gilbun, 2020

This is my hospital where I been born and they put down la coolamon (traditional carrying vessel made of bark or wood) and got that paperbark ready for me to lie on in the coolamon. The station manager wife later tell me: ‘14 now – you have to look for work’. I was going milking nanny goats and bringing back milk. Making beds and lots of things; setting table for kartiya (whitefellas) and washing and ironing – I been learn on station. Good manager's wife she was, nice. Never been cheeky, never trying to whip us or anything like that. I do this painting for myself to remember when I been born and grow up and start working.

Darling Portrait Prize 2020
(More information, View all 40 paintings)

Portrait of Brendan Nelson
Post-show blues
Respite (Simon Yates – acrobat)
Rhonda

Related information

Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe
Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe
Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe
Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe

Storied portrait

About Face article

27 May 2020

Emily Casey takes in Shirley Purdie’s remarkable self-portrait, Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe.
© Shirley Purdie/Copyright Agency, 2020
© Shirley Purdie/Copyright Agency, 2020
© Shirley Purdie/Copyright Agency, 2020
© Shirley Purdie/Copyright Agency, 2020

Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenybe

Shirley Purdie

Previous exhibition, 2020

Using ochres collected on her country in Western Australia’s East Kimberley, Shirley Purdie’s self-portrait is a kaleidoscope of traditional Gija stories and Ngarranggarni (Dreaming) passed down to her.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

Darling Portrait Prize 2020

Previous exhibition, 2020

The Darling Prize is a new biennial prize for Australian portrait painters, painting Australian sitters. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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