Annette Ellis Napangarti was born in 1961 at Papunya, not long after the settlement’s official opening. Her grandfather Tom Onion Tjapangarti was Honey Ant Boss for the Papunya area. With Mick Wallankarri Tjakamarra, he was a key figure in authorising a team of painters led by Kaapa Tjampitjinpa and including Annette’s father Don Ellis to paint the now famous Honey Ant mural on the Papunya School wall in 1971 at the beginning of the desert painting movement.
Annette’s mother was Rosie (Purula) Ikunka Napurrula. Don and Rosie had a son, Tony, and three daughters, Barbara, Sarah and Annette (the youngest). The family lived in the Papunya area before the settlement was established. Annette later went to school in Papunya and remembered doing pottery with Geoffrey Bardon as a school girl. Later she attended Yirara College in Alice Springs.
Annette’s first husband was Fraser Daniels from Yuendumu, younger brother of Kaapa Tjampitjinpa and himself an occasional painter for Papunya Tula. Annette and Fraser had three daughters, Jessie, Evalun and Tarmina. After Fraser’s death Annette married David Dixon, son of Mick Wallankarri and Topsy Napaltjarri. They have a daughter, Clarinda.
Annette has lived in Papunya all her life. She identifies as Luritja: her grandfather was one of the last speakers of Kukatja in these parts. She paints the Honey Ant Dreaming story for Papunya, which she learnt from her grandfather. She began painting for Papunya Tjupi in 2007 and often works in the art centre alongside her sister Sarah. Asked why she paints, Annette said: “I want to paint the Honey Ant Dreaming for my grandfather and father. It makes me happy when I paint.”
- Writers:
- Papunya Tjupi Arts
- Date written:
- 2009
- Last updated:
- 2011
