Two Traveling Women at Lupulnga 2009

Makinti Napanangka painted this piece, "Two Traveling Women at Lupulnga," using a palette knife to drag and deposit lush colour onto the surface. The beauty of this work lies in its immediacy; you can practically feel the artist's hand moving across the canvas. Look closely at the paint's texture. It's thick, almost sculptural in places, and quite opaque. The way Napanangka uses the palette knife doesn't try to hide the process. Each stroke is visible, creating a map of her movements and decisions. The creamy yellow next to the soft pink and cool grey creates a harmony, a feeling of being present. It reminds me of the expressive mark-making of Joan Mitchell, though Napanangka’s approach feels more grounded, more connected to the earth. This isn't just painting; it's a translation of lived experience. Art is an ongoing conversation, and Napanangka speaks with a voice that is uniquely her own.