BORN circa 1948

REGION Yumara, North of Docker River, Western Australia.

LANGUAGE Pintupi / Ngaatjatjarra

Esther Giles Nampitjinpa is a senior Pintupi artist whose work is deeply connected to the landscapes and cultural traditions of the Western Desert. Raised living a traditional nomadic life before her family settled at Papunya, she later returned to live on her ancestral Country, where she continues to draw inspiration from the stories and places of her homeland.

Before establishing herself as a painter, Esther was highly regarded for her traditional basket weaving. She later developed a distinctive painting practice that depicts important features of the desert landscape, including tali (sand dunes), puli (rock formations), waterholes and ancestral pathways. These works reflect the cultural knowledge and ceremonial traditions passed down through generations, expressing the enduring relationship between Country, Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) and community.

Characterised by intricate patterning and balanced compositions, Esther’s paintings translate traditional body designs and sacred sites into a refined contemporary visual language. Her work has been exhibited widely in Australia and internationally and is represented in significant public and private collections throughout Australia, Europe and the United States.