Language Group: Pitjantjatjara
Nellie was born in the bush at Pipalyatjara, her father's country in the late 1930's. Her mother is from Irrunytju and is Kuntjil Cooper's older sister. As a young girl Nellie attended school at the Ernabella mission and later worked in Alice Springs teaching Pitjantjatjara language with her husband. She began painting in 2007 when she moved to Nyapari with her family.
Nellie Stewart is a senior Pitjantjatjara woman who only began painting in 2007. She has an intuitve feeling for painting, drawing on her deep cultural connection to her country associated with the Tjukurpa of Minyma Kutjara (the Two Sisters Creation story) from Irrunytju. Her works are bold and colourful landscapes depicting country traversed by the two Ancestral women. Landmarks created by their epic journeying and activities embody a spiritual essence, which is captured in her paintings.
Located about 100kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country traditionally owned by the Pitjantjatjara people. These ranges known to Anangu as Murputja, likening the mountain to the bony ridge of a person’s spine, are the source of many water holes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements. Over fifty artists from Murputja joined together with family members living in traditional country 180kms to the south at Watarru and created Tjungu Palya (Good Together).
Tjungu Palya is 100% owned and managed by Aboriginal people ensuring the wealth of talent and economic returns are retained in the community. Tjungu Palya promotes cultural integrity and the ethical sales of authentic art.
2009 'Alwara-wara - Side by Side' Outstation, Darwin, Northern Territory.
2009 'Tjukurpa Wirunya Kanyini' Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, New South Wales.
2009 'Our Mob' Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
2009 'Wanampiku Munu Kalayaku Ngura' Chapman Gallery, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
2009 'Kulini Ngura - Knowing Country' Short St Gallery, Broome, Western Australia
2008 'Iwara Mantangka - Land Lines' Randell Lane Fine Art, Perth, Western Australia
2008 'Expressions of Cultural Connections: Evolution of Aboriginal Artists' The American Club, ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 'Tjungu Palyaku Warka Nyuwana' ReDot Gallery, Singapore
2008 'Manta Nyangatja Pitjantjatjara' Short St Gallery, Broome, Western Australia
2008 'Tjukurpa Kutjupa Kutjupa Tjuta' Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, New South Wales
2008 'Tjukurpa Kunpu' Marshall Arts, Adelaide, South Australia
2008 'Women's Show' Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria.
2010 IAD Press, Jukurrpa Calendar, January - internal image 'Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa'