Colleen Wallace Nungurrayi Eastern Arrernte, b. 1974

Colleen Wallace Nungarrayi

Born in 1974, Wallace is an Eastern Arrernte artist who grew up between Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) and Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in the Northern Territory.

Her father’s Country is Arnumarra, near Gem Tree, North East of Alice Springs and her mother’s Country is Arrulka, near Conniston, North West of Alice Springs.

Raised by her stepmother, artist Kathleen Kemarre Wallace, her mother Therese Wallace, and aunt, Gabriella Wallace are also artists. 

Wallace is married to Colin Bird the son of the famous Utopia artist Ada Bird Petyarre, and they have five children together. 

Wallace inherited her grandfather Dreaming, recognised senior artist, Kenny Tilmouth Penangke, with permission to paint ‘Irrernte-arenye’ ‘Dreamtime Sisters' Dreaming. Protective, benevolent spirits of important areas of land, such as sacred or ceremonial sites, these ancestral spirits dance awelye, the women’s ceremony, which is also a subject of her works.

She has further links to Ada Bird Petyarre and her country around Mulga Bore with her Arlatyeye (Bush Yam Dreaming).