Polly Ngale

Born: c. 1936
Deceased: 2022
Language Group: Anmatyerre
Country: Ahalpere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects: Anwekety (Conkerberry)

Like her sisters (Angelina and Kathleen Ngale), Polly predominantly painted the Anwekety (conkerberry, also referred to as the bush plum), depicted through superimposed dot work. A vibrant and bubbly person, Polly spoke little English and lived a traditional life at Utopia (North East of Alice Springs).

Collections
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA

Exhibitions
1989
Utopia Women's Paintings, the first Works on Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988-1989, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1990
Utopia - A Picture Story, an Exhibition of 88 works on Silk by Utopian artists, Holmes à Court Collection, toured Eire and Scotland
2000
Australie - Art, Arts d'Australie Stephane Jacob, J.L.Amsler, Bastille, Paris
2003
20th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
2008
Dreamings - the Land, Outback Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, VIC
2008
Emily and Her Legacy, Hillside Gallery with Coo-ee Art Sydney, Tokyo, Japan

References
Brody, A.
(1989) Utopia Women's Paintings The First Works on Canvas, A Summer Project 1988-89, exhib.cat., Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, WA
Brody, A.
(1990) Utopia: a Picture Story, 88 Silk Batiks from the Robert Holmes à Court Collection, Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, WA
Birnberg, M. & Kreczmanski, JB.
(2004) Aboriginal Artists Dictionary of Biographies, J.B. Publishing Australia