Sacred Women's Ceremony Sandhills | AS-008

DOB: 12 April 1962

Birthplace: Tjukurla, WA

Language: Ngaanyatjarra

Region: Gibson Desert

Lives: Alice Springs, NT



Born at Paaya near Tjukurla in Western Australia, Barbara Reid is an important painter in the same tradition as her mother Ningura Napurrula. She is a Ngaanyatjarra woman working in an individualistic style depicting the country of Tjukurla in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia.

Barbara started painting in 1987 for the Centre for aboriginal Artists. Her paintings show beautiful depictions of place, paintings of the lands to which she is custodian and the songs that explain them.

Barbara’s works show the depictions of puli – (rock formations) and tuli – (sand hills), the land formations that are attributed to the land from which she comes. Also seen in many of Barbara’s works are the sacred women’s stories (Minyma), descriptions of the role of the women as healers and providers within Ngaanyatjarra society.

Her works have been exhibited in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Alice Springs and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.

She now paints for Gondwana Gallery in Alice Springs.