Tommy May – Photo courtesy Canning Stock Route Project
“I was big when I left my country. I was already hunting by myself. I was with my young brother and my mother. My father had passed away by this time. I know these stories and these places in my country. I paint these now.
We are not allowed to paint that story for other people’s country. We will get killed or into trouble if we do this. We put that easy story, not a really hard story like law business. We can’t paint that either.
I first saw paintings in caves. I learned a lot from people, mostly my father and grandfather. I was living all around in my country, camping all around. When I paint I think about this.”
Ngarralja Tommy May
Ngarralja is a Wangkajunga/Walmajarri man. He was born at Yarrnkurnja in the Great Sandy Desert. He dances and sings Kurtal, a ceremony relating to the main jila [living waterhole] in his country. He is also a painter and printmaker.
Ngarralja is fluent in Wangkajunga, Walmajarri and English and writes Walmajarri. He is a founding member of the Karrayili Adult Education centre where he learnt to read and write his own language and English.
Ngarralja is an important person for art and culture in Fitzroy Crossing. He is a former Deputy Chairman of Mangkaja Arts and former Chairman of Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC). Ngarralja was also an executive for twenty one years on the Association of Northern Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA) Board of Directors. Ngarralja lives with his wife and children at Mindi Rardi Community in Fitzroy Crossing.
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Tommy May with the Ngurrara Canvas – Photo Artlink
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2016-Recent works on tin and board by Tommy May-RAFT south, Hobart, TAS
2016-Wurna Juwal-ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2009-Luka [Mud] with wife Dorothy May–Brigitte Braun Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2007-Lau Lau-Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne, VIC
2007-Jilji Jaa Marrtuwarra with wife Dorothy May-Brigitte Braun Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
Selected Exhibitions:
2016-Scratching the Surface–IDAIA at Alliance Française de Sydney, NSW
2016-Hedland Art Award-Port Hedland, WA
2016-NATSIAA-Darwin, NT
2016-Gimme Shelter-Short St, Broome, WA
2016-Masterpiece Art Fair-JGM Art, London, UK
2015-Hedland Art Award-Courthouse Gallery, Port Hedland, WA
2015-NEW FRONTIERS-Linden New Art, St Kilda, Vic
2015-Everybody’s Prints-Nomad Art, Darwin, NT
2014-Broken Hill Art Prize-Broken Hill, NSW
2014-City Of Hobart Prize (Printmaking)-Hobart, Tasmania
2012-Mangkaja Arts 21 Year Anniversary-Wirrinyiya ngaragngarag birra ngamoo ngamoo–Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2012-Couples-Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2012-Prints, Paper & Canvas-Nomad Art, Darwin, NT
2012-Emerging-Better World Arts, Syndey
2011-Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair–DAAF, Darwin
2011-Jumu & Wanirri-Brigitte Braun Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2009-Mangkaja Artists 60×60-Randell Lane Fine Art, WA
2009-Mangkaja Survey Show-Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
2009-Senior Artists from Fitzroy Crossing-Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2008-More Than a Few Good Men-Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2007-Jilji Jaa Martuwarra [Desert Side River Side]-Brigitte Braun Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2007-Fremantle Print Award-Fremantle Arts Centre, WA
2006-Impressions 2006 – Limited edition prints-Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne, VIC
2005-Surprise; Cory & Friends-Red Dot Gallery, Singapore
2005-Too Much Good Work-Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT
2005-True Colours – Recent works from Fitzroy Crossing-Queensland College of Art Gallery,
Griffith University, QLD
2004-This is Still My Country-Artplace, Perth, WA
2004-Ngurrara Canvas-Perth Concert Hall, Perth International Arts Festival, WA
2004-ON TRACK: Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Western Australia-Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia
2004/05-Colour Power: Aboriginal Art Post 1984-National Gallery of Victoria
2003-Jila, Jumu, Jiwari & Wirrkuja-Cullity Gallery, University of Western Australia
2003-Murrkunkura Ngarrangkarnijangka Ngurrara [Three Men’s Countries]-Raft Artspace, Darwin, NT
2002-Native Title Business Contemporary Indigenous Art-National Travelling Exhibition
2002-The 16th Asian International Art Exhibition-Guangdong Museum of Art in Guangzhou, China
2002-Group Show-Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2001-Ngurrara Canvas-National Gallery of Australia, ACT
2001-Mangkaja Arts Ten Years On,
Mangkaja’s 10 year Anniversary Show-Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2001-18th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award-Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
2001-Impressions! An exhibition of prints-Coomalie Culture Centre/Batchelor, NT
2001-Group Show-Australian Print Workshop Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2000-Fremantle Print Award-Fremantle Art Centre, WA
2000-: People in a Landscape: Contemporary Australian Prints-Cultural Centre of the Phlippines, Manila
2000-Proof Positive-Gold Treasury Museum, Melbourne, VIC
2000-Noumea-Pacifique 2000-Biennale D’Art Contemporain de Noumea
2000-Cutting Comments: Contemporary Lino Cut Prints 1995-98-Silk Cut Award travelling exhibition
1999-Ngurrara-Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
1999-Story Boards: Ceramic tiles from the Kimberley-Fremantle Art Centre, WA
1998-Group Show-Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London
1997-Heritage Commission Art Award-Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
1996-Fremantle Print Award-Fremantle Art Centre, WA
1996-13th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award-Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
1996-Heritage Commission Art Award-Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
1996-Mangkaja Paper Works-Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
1995-12th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award-National Tour
1995-Fremantle Print Award-Fremantle Art Centre, WA
1995-Prints from the APW Collection – Survey show of recent works from the APW archive-Australian Print Workshop
1994-Ngajakura Ngurrara Minyarti [This is My Country]-Festival of Perth Exhibition, WA Artplace Gallery, Perth, WA
1993-Images of Power-National Gallery of Victoria
1993-11th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award-National Tour
1993-Mangkaja Women-Fremantle Art Centre, WA
1993-Images of Power: Aboriginal Art from the Kimberley-National Gallery Victoria
1992-Group Show-Hogarth Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1991-Karrayili-Tandanya, National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
Selected Awards:
2016 – Hedland Art Award – BEST WORK in a medium other than painting
2016 – National Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) – Finalist General Painting
2015 – Port Hedland Art Award – BEST WORK in a medium other than painting
2010 – Regional Arts Australia Volunteer Awards – Sustained Contribution
Selected Collections:
National Museum of Australia, Canberra, ACT
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
Curtin University Collection, Perth,WA
Queensland State Art Gallery, WA
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, WA
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, SA
Carleton College Art Collection, Northfield, Minnesota, USA
Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA
Little Creatures Collection, Perth, WA
Fitzroy Crossing High School, WA
Fitzroy Crossing Hospital, WA
Selected Public Commissions:
2012: Fitzroy Crossing Police Station
2010: Fitzroy Valley High School
2008: Fitzroy Valley Education Centre – Panels Project
2008: Fitzroy Crossing Hospital – paintings on canvas, foyer floor design
2010: Fitzroy Crossing Swimming Pool
2012: Fitzroy Crossing Police Station – Glass Panels
Selected Publications & Films:
2009 FORM and the National Museum of Australia
Canning Stock Route Project: Ngurra Kuju Walyja [One Country One People]
2007 FORM and the National Museum of Australia
The Canning Stock Route Project
2007 Art Gallery NSW
One Sun One Moon, Aboriginal Art in Australia
2006 Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC) NEW LEGEND: A Story of Law and Culture and the Fight for Self-Determination in the Kimberley
2005 Exhibition Catalogue: Red Dot Gallery, Singapore
Surprise; Cory and Friends
2004 National Gallery of Victoria
Colour Power: Aboriginal art post 1984
2004 University of Western Australia / Berndt Museum of Anthropology
ON TRACK: Contemporary Aboriginal Art from Western Australia
2003 Exhibition Catalogue:
Cullity Gallery UWA Perth / Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency
Martuwarra and Jila [River and Desert]
2003 Australian Art Collector. Review / Maurice O’Riordan
2003 New Yorker Magazine July 28, 2003
The Painted Desert: The Fate of an Aboriginal Masterpiece
2002 Joan Winter. Gurang Land Council. Regional Galleries Assn. QLD
Native Title Business: Contemporary Indigenous Art
2002 Exhibition Catalogue
Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art / Marrawarra and Jila entry / Ngurrara Canvas 1 entry
2002 Video Documentary / ABC Television.
Kurtal; Snake Spirit
2000 Oxford University Press & ANU
Oxford Companion to Aboriginal Art and Culture / Ngurrara Entry
2000 IATSIS Canberra
Karrayili: The History of Karrayili Adult Education Centre
1996 Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre Publication
Yirra: Land Law and Language, Strong and Alive
1993 National Gallery of Victoria
Images of Power: Aboriginal Art of the Kimberley
SOURCE: Mangkaja Arts
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