Pauline Williams

“I was born in Jigalong. My Dad’s Country is all around Kunawarritji rockhole. He was born at Kunawarritji well, [Canning Stock Route] Well 33. Sometimes I paint that area. My mum used to paint and I started doing the painting with her. We painted her Country, and her mother’s Country; [permanent springs] Wirnpa and Yimirri, the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) stories for that Country. It’s in the Percival Lakes area. I’ve never been there but I know those places because of painting with my mum. Both sides I do painting.

I also used to paint with my two aunties; Rosie [Mantararr (Muntararr)] Williams (dec.) and [Muni] Rita Simpson (dec.), my mother’s sisters. They’ve got one father. They came from one Country. My mum and my auntie’s painting, that’s the one I’m doing now- but my style is a little bit different. 

Background I like to use reds, for the red dust. I also like to use purple. All sorts of colours! I see those colours in the Country- all the sandhills, jila (snakes), or the Country around Kunawarritji well. That area is green.

I feel proud and happy when someone buys my painting. I love painting. I come in every day. Sometimes I go to my father’s Country and I do the painting there too.”

– Pauline Williams 

Pauline Williams, daughter of renowned Martumili Artist Jugarda (Dulcie) Gibbs (dec.), is part of the new generation of Martumili Artists. She frequently paints her mother’s traditional country between the Percival Lakes and Kunawarritji. Recently Pauline has exhibited as part of several award and group exhibitions, including ‘Revealed Emerging Aboriginal artists from Western Australia’ (Fremantle Art Centre),’The Jury Prize’ (Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery), ‘Cossack Art Awards’ and ‘Desert Mob’ (Araluen Centre).