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Judy Lirririnyin, an Aboriginal artist from Milingimbi, was born on March 8, 1958. Her father is Binyinywuy from the Djambarrpuynu clan, who was a prominent bark painter.

Early Influences

Lirririnyin learned to paint from her father, grandfathers, and uncles. As a girl, she would watch her father paint on bark with natural red, orange and yellow ochres, outside in the shade of their home. Sometimes her father was accompanied by her aunts and uncles, who would also paint. Lirririnyin says that her father taught her everything, including weaving, painting, personal values. Many of Lirririnyin’s paintings reflect the knowledge that she internalized from her elder male relatives.

Career

Although she had learned to paint from a young age, Lirririnyin began incorporating clan designs into her paintings in 2016. She painted on bark with natural red, yellow and white pigments, echoing her father’s style. One of Lirririnyin’s most well-known works is “Morning Star”, a bark painting that’s 64 x 44 cm. Morning Star, also known as Barnumbirr or Banumbirr, is an ancestral spirit in Yolngu culture who is said to have guided the Djang’kawu sisters to Arnhem Land. Lirririnyin has also created various other works of art, including woven baskets of different forms.

Community Contributions

Alongside art, Lirririnyin works at the Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture Program at the Milingimbi clinic. She became involved in 1993, and continues to work there today. The program aims to support young women to improve maternal health and the health of newborn babies in the Milingimbi community. The program involves educating young women on nutrition, having a healthy lifestyle, and the dangers of smoking, and focuses on strengthening the family and taking a holistic approach rather than relying on Western medicine. Traditional healing practices are also encouraged. Lirririnyin works alongside Julie Gapalathana to improve the birth weight of newborns, which is conducive to developmental health later on.