This month we feature ochre doyenne, Mabel Juli (bush name Wiringgoon) whom was born at Five Mile, near Moola Boola Station (south of Warmun) around 1942.  As a baby she was taken to Springvale Station, her mother's country where she started work as a little girl before moving to Bedford Downs Station and Bow River Station to work as a young lady.

Mabel Juli is a senior Warmun artist. She is a strong Law and Culture woman and an important ceremonial singer and dancer. Juli started painting in the 1980s, at the same time as well-known Warmun artists Queenie McKenzie and Madigan Thomas.  The women used to watch Rover Thomas paint and one day he said to them, 'You try yourself, you might make good painting yourself'.  Juli says, 'I started thinking about my country, I give it a try'. 

Juli is a dedicated, innovative artist who continues to work in natural earth pigments on canvas.  She primarily paints the Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming) stories of her country Darrajayin (also spelt Tarrajayan), which is covered largely by Springvale Station.

She has an extensive exhibition history dating back to 1994 and in recent years has held many solo shows at the top Aboriginal galleries across Australia.  Her work is very sought after and features in most Aboriginal collections across the world.

We have several top quality examples of her work in the Gallery so do not miss the opportunity to see one of the world’s foremost ochre painters in July at the ReDot.