'Lofty' Bardayal Nadjamerrek
(Deceased)


One of Australia's "Grand Old Masters" of aboriginal art from Arnhem Land

Lofty' Bardayal Nadjamerrek

Other names: Warmud, Nabegeyo, Nabadayal

Dob:              	  c1926
Died:              	  Oct. 2009 
Region:         	  Western Arnhem Land 
Community:      	  Gunbalanya [Oenpelli] 
Outstation:     	  Kurrukgurrh, Marlkawo, Mankungdjang 
Language:       	  Kunwinjku 
Local group:         Mok 
Social Affiliation:  Dhuwa moiety, Nakodjok subsection


Commissions:
1982, One of Lofty's paintings was used on the Australian 
	40c stamp issued in 1982.
	
Awards:
1999, Winner, best works on paper, National Aboriginal Art Award, 
      Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin.

2004, Australia Day Honours: Named an Officer in the General 
      Division of the Order of Australia


Northern Territory News
Jan. 27,2004

Collections:   
Artbank, Sydney. 
Australian Museum, Sydney. 
Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council, held by the National Museum of Canberra. 
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia. 
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin. 
Museum of Contemporary Art, Arnotts Collection, Sydney. 
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. 
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. 
The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth. 
University of Queensland, Anthropology Museum, St Lucia.


Solo Exhibitions:
2003, Annandale Gallery, Sydney, NSW

Exhibitions:
1975, Australian Bark Painting, from the collection of Dr. Edward L. Ruhe, 
      Meadow Brook Art Gallery, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA 
1982, Aboriginal Art at the Top, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern 
      Territory, Darwin. 1983, Artists of Arnhem Land, Canberra School of Arts. 
1984, The First National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1984/85, Kunwinjku Bim, Western Arnhem Land Paintings from the collection 
      of the Aboriginal Arts Board, National Gallery of Victoria
1985, The Second National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1986, The Art of the First Australians, Kobe City Museum, Japan 
1986, The Third National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1987, The Fourth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1988, Aboriginal art of the Top End, c.l935-Early 1970s, National Gallery 
      of Victoria, Melbourne 1990, The Seventh National Aboriginal Art Award 
      Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1992, The Ninth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1993, The Tenth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1994, Power of the Land, Masterpieces of Aboriginal Art, National Gallery 
      of Victoria. 
1994, The Eleventh National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art 
      Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin 
1995, Moon, Rainbow and Sugarbag - The art of Mick Kubarkku and Bardayal 
      Nadjamerrek, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, and touring. 
1995, The Twelfth National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of 
      the Northern Territory, Darwin o December 
1993  Editions Southbank Melbourne Vic. 
1994  Aboriginal & Tribal Art Gallery The Rocks Sydney NSW  
1996  Framed Gallery Darwin NT
1998, The Fifteenth National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of 
      the Northern Territory, Darwin
1999,  Framed Gallery Darwin NT
1999, The Sixteenth National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum and Art Gallery of 
      the Northern Territory, Darwin




Lofty with his wife Mary


Select Bibliography: 
Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council,1979, Oenpelli Bark Painting, 
Ure Smith, Sydney. (C) 

Brody, A., 1984, Kunwinjku Bim: Western Arnhem Land Paintings from the Collection 
of the Aboriginal Arts Board, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.(C) 

Ruhe, E. L., 1975, Australian bark painting, from the collection of Dr. Edward L. 
Ruhe, exhib. cat. Meadow Brook Art Gallery, Michigan, USA. 

West, M., (ed.), 1995, Rainbow Sugarbag and Moon, Two Artists of the Stone 
Country: Bardayal Nadjamerrek and Mick Kubarkku, exhib. cat., Museum and Art 
Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin. 

1994, Kunwinjku Art from Injalak 1991-1992, The John W. Kluge Commission, 
Museum Arts International Pty. Ltd., North Adelaide.


© Discovery Media, Documentation Pty Ltd, and the Australian 
Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies




Lofty with his wife and grandchildren

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