Shirley Bray Biography

Skin: Nangari
Language: Gija
Born: Alice Downs Station, W.A. c. 1952
Lives: Warmun Community (Turkey Creek) W.A

Shirley was born on Alice Downs Station, which is south of Warmun and north of Halls Creek. She went to school at Beagle Bay, north of Broome. The children who schooled there only came home twice a year in the holidays.
When she finished school Shirley went to work on the stations around Warmun, mustering and as a camp cook.
When she came back to Warmun to live, she taught Gija language at the Warmun School. Shirley has worked as a translator of Gija for many years now.
Like many Warmun artists, Shirley began painting for educational purposes at the school.
Shirley has painted consistently since the Warmun Art Centre commenced operation in September 1998.


Exhibitions:
1999 Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, Vic
1999 Karen Brown Gallery, Darwin, NT
1999 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin, NT
1999 Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, Perth, WA
2000 Chrysalis Publishing, Melbourne, Vic.


Collections:
Private Collections