Nancy Nodea

Born at Buffalo Hole, in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, on Texas Downs cattle station, or Joalga, as she knows it, Aboriginal artist Nancy Nodea grew up in the nursery of ochre painters such as Queenie McKenzie, Hector Jandanay and George Mung Mung. Afflicted with leprosy from a relatively young age, she spent many years at the leprosarium near Derby, where, among other pursuits she took lessons in the violin and piano.

Nancy moved to the nearby Warmun/Turkey Creek Community some years ago where she lives today with her children and grandchildren. She has a brother, Churchill Cann who is an accomplished artist, and although she was always interested in art, didn’t being painting until 1996, when she attended the Art Centre at Warmun. Here she was reunited with willing tutors Queenie, Hector and also Rover Thomas, Freddie Timms and Jack Britten. Nancy recently underwent amputation of her right leg, which she says, has made her feel better than she has for years.

Her meticulous ochre preparation and it’s application ensures that her minimal scenes of Texas achieve the aim of conveying her sense of belonging.
Subject & Themes
Her country, on and around Texas and Warmun/Turkey Creek, depicting places and Dreamtime, gnarangkani, sites and events.
Group Exhibitions
1997 Art of Turkey Creek Exhibition, The Mossenson Gallery, Perth.
1998 An Exhibition of Kimberley Art, The Pearler’s Row Gallery, Broome.
1998 Kimberley Dreaming, Indigenart Gallery, Perth.
1999 Ochre Gallery Opening Exhibition, Melboune.