Daisy Napaltjarri Jugadai

Daisy, a Pintupi / Luritja speaker, was born on 11 October 1955 in Haasts Bluff and grew up there where her father, Timothy Jugadai Tjungurrayi was the head stockman and her mother, Narputta Nangala, a cook.

Daisy married Kelly Multa and they moved to the nearby outstation, Kungkayunti where their daughter, Agnes was born. When her husband died Daisy, her sister, Molly (Maluya) and Agnes moved to Kintore for a while.

They returned to Haasts Bluff where Daisy began painting at the Ikuntji Women’s Centre in 1992.  Her mother, Narputta Nangala Jugadai, was by then its major artist.   Her father began painting in the mid 1970’s by adapting the traditional styles of the initial Papunya Tula artists and depicting site mythologies for which he held responsibilities.  He inspired Narputta and Daisy who, after his death, became renowned artists, both being represented in the National Gallery of Australia.

Daisy is well known for her unique depiction of the native plants, including bush tucker, around Haasts Bluff and her wonderful clouds. What can appear to be, to those not familiar with Daisy’s work, just a colourful painting is actually a detailed description of the land formation and vegetation of an identifiable area of the surrounding beautiful, lush desert.

Whilst most Central Australian artists paint with the Belgian linen canvas flat on the floor, Daisy painted with hers leaning against a wall or table leg.   In Tingari Arts Daisy was always happy painting and chatting about the area and plants she was depicting and had great joy with her wonderful clouds which completed the story.

Daisy and Linx Macpherson, Director, Tingari Arts, were one day apart in age and shared their joint birthday celebrations whenever possible, always including their friend, the artist, Pansy Napangati.

In 2000 Daisy won the painting section of the Telstra National Indigenous and Torres Straits Art Awards.

Daisy died in 2008 and is buried in Haasts Bluff.

Collections include:
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria
Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Edith Cowan University
Artbank, Sydney