Marshall Jangala Robertson

Marshall Jangala Robertson is a Warlpiri artist who paints for Warlukurlangu Art Centre in the Northern Territory.

Born in 1974 in Darwin, he grew up in Lajamanu, attending first the local school and later the Aboriginal Boarding school at Alice Springs, Yirara College. After finishing school Marshall returned to Lajamanu working in a variety of trades, before moving to Yuendumu, his parent’s country.

Marshall comes from a family of artists: his father, Jimmy Jampijinpa Robertson, was a founding member of the Waniyaka Art Centre at Lajamanu and his mother, Denise Napangardi Tasman, was also a well-known artist.

When painting with his family and when visiting his parents country Marshall was listening to the Jukurrpa stories. He paints his grandfather’s and father’s Dreamings: Ngapa Jukurrpa (Water Dreaming); Watiya-Warna Jukurrpa (Seed Dreaming) and Warna Jukurrpa (Snake Dreaming) – dreamings which relate directly to his land, its features and the plants and animals that live in and on it.

Marshall is married to well-known artist Justinna Napaljarri Sims, and they have four children. When not painting, Marshall enjoys going bush, hunting for goannas or travelling to Adelaide with his family, catching up with relatives and friends.

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 2021 Synergy: Art from the Heartlands of Aboriginal Australia, Everywhen Art, Shoreham VIC
• 2019 defining tradition | black + white, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney