Elizabeth Nyumi

Born: 1947

Death: 2019

Biography:

Elizabeth Nyumi was an Australian Postwar & Contemporary painter. She was born in 1947 and passed away in 2019. Nyumi's mother belonged to the country of Nynmi near Kiwirrkurra on the Pintupi side, while her father was from Alyarra in the region of Natajarra. She lived a nomadic existence with her family group on the Canning Stock Route before walking into Old Mission with her father after her mother had died. Nyumi married a man by the name of Palmer Gordon who became a senior law man of the Billiluna community. Both Nyumi and Palmer taught culture to the children at the school ensuring the traditional dances and songs are kept alive. Nyumi advised the nursing staff at the health clinic about traditional bush medicines and was also knowledgeable about carving coolamons and digging sticks. Nyumi's paintings are mainly concerned with the country of abundant bush food belonging to her family.