Dhalmula
Burarrwaŋa

dhalmula-burarrwana
Homeland:
Clan: Gumatj
Moiety: Yirritja

Dhalmula is a young emerging artist who continues the powerful artistic talents of her family’s heritage in her own distinctive style. Her mother Naytjiŋa is the daughter of Roy Marika, known as the Father of Land Rights. Her maternal grandmother Dhundhuŋa was one of the daughters of Muŋgurrawuy Yunupiŋu whose other children include Australians of the Year Galarrwuy and Mandawuy Yunupiŋu and famous artists, Gaymala, Gulumbu, Barrupu, Nyapanyapa, Djerrkŋu, Djakaŋu and Dhopiya Yunupiŋu. As her grandmother died before she was born she was nurtured by Djerrkŋu.

Both her art and the artist are from the stars.

She began making prints when she was 17 and in 2023 won the Emerging Artist category in the 40th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. In 2025 she became a mother, and in the same year held her first solo exhibition, a body of contemporary bark paintings that connect with the ancient songline which celebrates the celestial constellation of Djulpan (Orion, Big Dipper), which was exhibited at Outstation Gallery in Darwin. The exhibition was highly celebrated and resulted in acquisitions by significant private and public collections including the Art Gallery of South Australia. In 2026 Dhalmula’s work titled ‘Djulpan’ was included in the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Below is an early statement by the artist:

‘I was born at Nhulunbuy Hospital. My mother is Natjinga Marika. l live in Yirrkala – Recreation Road. I enjoy learning about printmaking and I have a good knowledge of photographic linocut. I would like to learn more about art. My favourite artist was my grandmother Gaymala Yunupingu, she made lots of prints that were very colourful’