Nancy was born in the bush at Buffalo Hole, Ngarrgooroon (Texas Downs) and grew up and worked on Texas Downs Station, along with many of her family members. The Kitja people who were born and/or worked on Texas Downs are among the most noteworthy of the Ochre Artists, including Queenie McKenzie (dcsd.), Hector Jandany (dcsd.), Nancy’s brother Churchill Cann, Katie Cox, Betty Carrington and Patrick Mung Mung. Nancy’s son Mark Nodea and her niece (Churchill’s daughter) Charlene Carrington are two of the most talented ochre artists the Kimberley region has produced.
Nancy began painting in 1994 with Madigan Thomas, Mabel Juli and the other female artists who were encouraged by Rover Thomas and Jack Britten. Nancy paints her country Texas Downs of which she has intimate knowledge, and invariably the landscape artwork is accompanied by a significant Traditional Dreamtime story. Nancy attended bush school and also classes whilst at the leprosarium near Derby, and is able to include in her painting content historical themes concerning the early white settlers and her memories of the station life, as well as those stories passed on to her by her older family members.
Nancy and her brother Churchill are involved in negotiations for traditional custodianship of parts of their country, in particular Nancy’s birthplace, Buffalo Hole. They take their children and grandchildren to Texas regularly to ensure the close association with this land will continue to inspire and encourage their family for generations.
Selected Exhibitions
2007
From the ground up: Ochre work from the Kimberley, Chapman Gallery, Canberra
Greetings From Turkey Creek, Mary Place Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
Warda-Wurrarrem (All Kinds of Stars), Raft Artspace, Darwin
2006
”Women Of Texas Downs,” Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth
”Warmun Art Centre Presents”, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2005
”New Work From Warmun” Gladfly Gallery, Perth
”Warmun Group Show”, Framed Gallery, Darwin,
”Gija – Across The Border”, Raft Artspace, Darwin
”Waterhole Country”, Short Street Gallery, Broome
2004
”Big Country Show”, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
”Women’s Figurative Show”, Short Street Gallery, Broome
2002
All That Gija Country, Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide
Women Of The East Kimberley, Tandanya, Adelaide
Recent Works From The Warmun Community, Framed Gallery, Darwin
Thornquest Gallery, Gold Coast
Coolmalie Culture Centre, Darwin
2001
Grand Opening Exhibition, Thornquest Gallery, Gold Coast
Guildford Grammar School Art Exhibition, Perth
Ochres, Short Street Gallery, Broome
Guildford Grammar School Art Exhibition, Perth
New Paintings From Warmun Art Centre”, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2000
Hogarth Galleries, Sydney
Collections
Artbank
Private and Corporate Collections within Australia and Internationally