Nyuju Stumpy Brown Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1924 - d. 2011

Stumpy Brown (1924- 2011) was a senior Wangkatjungka woman born at Ngupawarlu in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. Stumpy is a full sister to the famous Aboriginal artist Rover Thomas. She lost her mother and father at an early age and was raised by her uncle, Jamali who was droving bullocks on the Canning Stock Route. He took Nyuju to Balgo Hills when she was a little girl, and then later returned to Fitzroy Crossing where Nyuju grew up and lived most of her life.

Stumpy Brown says of her early life: “My country is desert county. There are no rivers, we never see running water like rivers, only creeks after the rain, only jilji (sandhills). When I was a young girl I came to Balgo on a camel. This was the first time I came from the bush. Later I worked in the kitchen at Bohemia Downs Station. We got no money for the work. We got tea, meat and tobacco.”

Stumpy Brown began painting in the late 1980s in Fitzroy Crossing. As a senior law woman and custodian of Ngupawarlu, she recreates the story of her country in bold strong colours, and has been exhibiting her work since 1991. Stumpy lived at Wangkatjungka Community and at Fitzroy Crossing. Stumpy Brown’s work is represented in National and State Galleries and numerous private collections.