Alma Webou (Kalaju)

Alma Webou (c.1928 - 2009) is a Yulparija elder who grew up in Pinkalakara in the Great Sandy Desert. She led a traditional existence until the early 1970s when severe drought forced the Yulparija people to move to Bidyadanga on the coast. Alma said, "Pinkalakara is the place I was born and grew up; this is my mother's country. (It is near Joanna Spring on Anna Plains station close to the Canning Stock Route.) This country has lots of mayi (bush food). I lost my mummy and sister here." Alma cried when she painted Pinkalarta. Many of her family died as a result of the droughts in this country. Alma was a senior law woman and was well respected in her community.

Solo Exhibitons

2005 Pinkalarta, Short St Gallery @ Mary's Place, Sydney, NSW

Group Exhibitions

2007 Desert Heart, Nevill Keating Gallery, London, England

2007 From Pinkalarta to Lungarung: Alma (Kalaju) Webou & Weaver Jack, Aboriginal and

Pacific Art, Sydney, NSW

2007 From the Bungalow I: Yulparija Artists, Johnston Gallery, Perth, WA

2006 Northern Journey, The Priory at Bingie, Bingie, NSW

2006 Bidyadanga Women, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT

2006 2006 Outback Art Prize, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill, NSW

2006 Right here, right now: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander acquisitions, National Gallery

of Australia, Canberra, ACT

2006 23rd Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art

Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin, NT

2005 The return of our land, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT

2005 Mummy + daughter, Jan Billycan and Alma Webou, Willam Mora Galleries,

Melbourne, Vic

2005 Painting Country - A West to East Journey, World Expo Aichi, Japan

2005 Bidyadanga 2005 - Recent Works, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA

2004 Desert Ocean,Short st. Gallery @ Kidogo Gallery, Fremantle, WA

2004 Divas of the Desert, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs, NT

2004 Bidyadanga Artists, William Mora Gallery, Melbourne, Vic

2004 Bidyadanga Art, Art House Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2004 21st Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art

Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin, NT

2004 Bidyadanga Artists, Raft Art Space, Darwin, NT

2004 Desert to Saltwater, Short st. Gallery @ Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2003 Manyiljara, Short st. Gallery, Broome, WA

Collections

National Gallery of Australia

National Gallery of Victoria

Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory

Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

Laverty Collection

Myer Collection

Sam Barry Collection

Harvey Wagner Collection, USA

NSW State Gallery