Nora Wompi Nungurrayi was born at Lilbaru in the Great Sandy Desert, near Well 33 on the Canning Stock Route.She lived a traditional nomadic life until her early 20s.
Wompi recalls it was near Well 33 that she saw a white person for the first time. Nomadic life was harsh during dry times and she tells of the long walk into the Balgo Mission with her mother.
Nungarrayi began to paint in 1988 when she was living at Balgo Hills. In Balgo she cooked bread at the bakery and tended to the goats. This is also where she met her husband, the brother of fellow artist Lucy Yukenbarri.
Wompi and her husband would paint together, as is common with husbands and wives in Balgo. They spent some time in Fitzroy Crossing until her husband passed away. Wompi then decided to return to Well 33 where she continues to reside today. She visits Balgo regularly to see family and to paint.
Her work oscillates between intricate tracings of familiar country and painterly strokes of bold colour.
Her work was first exhibited in Warlayirti Artists group exhibitions in 1990 and was exhibited in Yapa: Peintres Aborig?nes de Balgo et Lajamanu at Baudoin Lebon Gallery, Paris in 1991.
