Aboriginal Fine Art

Tribe: Kunwinjku

Area: Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Born: circa 1926 - 2009

Biography:

Lofty Bardayal Nadjamerrek was born in 1926 in the Mann River area of Central Arnhemland. He spent his younger years growing up in this area, learning the traditional Aboriginal ways of living. Lofty did not attend school but developed his knowledge in the traditional sense of his people.
Lofty had wide knowledge of the stories of his people and was a custodian to many of them. Lofty took part in many ceremonies.
Lofty was a married man, with five daughters and three sons. None of his children however paint.
As a young man Lofty worked at road construction and in the sawmill at Oenpelli. In is later days he resided mostly at his home country with occasional visits to Oenpelli. He was a consistent painter, although in his later days it was a slow process due to his age and failing eyesight, caused by Trachoma. Lofty had not travelled for the purposes of his art.
Lofty was the only Aboriginal Artist to receive the Order Of Australia, the highest level of recognition that can be achieved in Australia.
One of Bardayal’s paintings was used on the Australian 40 cent stamp issued in 1982.
In 1993, FAC Darwin Airport Commission held a large mural based on a painting of “Ngalyod” by Bardayal on permanent display in Darwin Airport Foyer.
Lofty Nadjamerrek is a highly regarded artist, painting in the traditional style. His paintings are in major collections worldwide.

Awards:

2004 - Australia Day Honours: Lofty was named an officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia
1999 - Winner, best works on paper, National Aboriginal Art Award, Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin

Collections:

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Darwin
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia
The Australian Museum, Sydney Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council, National Museum of Canberra
Museum of Contemporary Art, Arnotts Collection, Sydney
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade Canberra
Anthropology Museum, University of Queensland, St Lucia
Artbank, Sydney
Holmes a’ Court Collection, Perth