My Story

I am Shirley Purdie
This is my story
Ngayin-ga Birrmarriyan-nga
Berrembi jarragbe ngaginybe.

My mother shows me how to get bushtucker and she shows me how to paint.
Now I’m a famous artist.
My paintings are all over the world hanging in important places. Happy times.

Told in English and Gija, this is the story of Shirley Purdie, famous Gija artist, as told through her paintings, as part of the Ngaalim-Ngalimboorro Ngagenybe exhibition created for the 2018 National Portrait Gallery exhibition So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history. The exhibition will be rehung, in Gallery 1, to coincide with the launch of My Story, along with a series of cultural engagement activities based on My Story.