Narpula Scobie Napurrula

Pintubi artist, Narpula Scobie, was born at Haasts Bluff in February 1950 and grew up in Papunya. Her father was Toba Tjakamarra, and her mother was Nganyima Napaltjarri. She is the younger sister of Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula and half-sister of Mitjili Napurrula.

The desert art movement began at Papunya in 1971 when Narpula was twenty-one. As it progressed, she assisted her husband, Johnny Scobie Tjapanangka, by painting dotted background details for his artwork.

 Narpula’s involvement in her husband’s artwork allowed her to develop an intimate understanding of the techniques and cultural significance of desert art. Her contributions were not merely technical but were deeply embedded in the storytelling tradition, a hallmark of Pintupi art. This gradual immersion into the intricate methods of painting cultivated a strong artistic identity that would later emerge prominently in her solo works.

 Over time, Narpula began exploring her own artistic voice, transitioning from assisting her husband to creating her own independent works. Her deep understanding of the desert’s cultural narratives and symbolic forms enabled her to blend tradition with innovation. Her early paintings often displayed a profound connection to Dreaming stories, as she meticulously developed her technique, mastering the interplay of colour and pattern.