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Doris is a storyteller. She paints vivid memories, stories and dreams from her life. Doris was born circa 1942 in Haast Bluff/Inkuntji where she grew up. Her work often tells happy stories from these early days; eating, hunting and swimming with her friends and family in the bush.
It was in Ikuntji that Doris met and married George Bush Tjangala (passed away), a Luritja/Amnatyerre man whose family came from just west of Alice Springs. George Bush was one of Papunya Tula Artists’ original shareholders, though he did not paint much for the company apart from a brief period in the early 1980’s. Together they had three sons.
In the mid 1980’s the family went to live on an outstation at Nyunmanu in Doris’ mother’s country out towards the WA/NT border. Doris paints Nyunmanu and the traditional Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) of this place, Dingo Dreaming. Later the couple divided their time between Papunya and Alice Springs, where George painted for the Centre for Aboriginal Artists and Craftsmen in Alice Springs.
After her husband’s death in 1997, Doris spent increasing amounts of time in Papunya. Doris was a familiar figure in some of the Aboriginal art galleries of Alice Springs, asking for canvas and paints, although she received no encouragement.
After Papunya Tjupi Arts was established in Papunya in late 2007, Doris quickly became one of the most prolific and enthusiastic painters in the community and is usually the first to arrive each morning when – or even before – the doors open.
Doris’ work has been exhibited widely throughout Australia and across the globe, partcipating in over 70 group exhibitions since 2008. Her work has been acquired into several Australian and international collections.
(c) Papunya Tjupi Arts