Karen Napaljarri Barnes. Image and text © Warlukurlangu Artists
Biography of Aboriginal Artist, Karen Napaljarri Barnes
Karen Napaljarri Barnes was born in Lajamanu, a remote Aboriginal community in semi-arid country on the edge of the Tanami Desert, 1000km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. She moved to Yuendumu, 700km south, after finishing school in Lajamanu, to be with her family. She has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed Art Centre, since 2001. She is the granddaughter of Warlukurlangu's famous artist Judy Napangardi Watson, and they would sit together painting at the Art Centre every day when Karen first started painting.
Karen paints the Dreaming stories handed down to her by her family for generations, stories which come from Mina Mina, country west of Yuendumu, of which her family are the custodians. She also paints Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming), Wakulyarri Jukurrpa (Wallaby Dreaming), Ngarlajiyi Jukurrpa (Bush Carrot Dreaming), and Ngatijirri Jukurrpa (Budgerigar Dreaming). Karen loves sport, especially basketball and softball, and is an avid football spectator, barracking for Lajamanu.