“I am a senior lady at Iwantja, and I began working as an artist a long time ago. Me and
Mrs Singer were the first women artists here. I help look after the art centre and go to the big meetings for them. I also enjoy singing and I travelled to sing in the ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games. My father was a special Ngangkari (traditional healer) and he taught me about healing; now I am Ngangkari too. I do lots of work for the women’s council, I’m always working and supporting Anangu women. As artists and as a community, we should always do more work with the young people, making things together and teaching them about the old ways, always remembering country, this is a good way.”
Maringka was born near Wingellina and grew up in Ernabella community. She went through school in Ernabella and spent most of her youth there. She later moved to Amata and then to Indulkana where she raised her family and still resides today. Maringka is a mother and grandmother for lots of young kids. She is an artist of many mediums including Tjanpi weaving, painting canvas and beaded jewellery. Maringka is also a practising ngankari (traditional healer) and works with the NPY Women's Council to provide traditional healing services.
Combining her work as a healer with that of an artist, leading exhibitions in which Maringka's work has featured include the The National, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2021; the Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2021 and ‘Open Hands’ TARNANTHI, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 2020.
