About Me

My name is Jean Pepperill Penankge and welcome to Ngimarre. Penangke is my skin name handed down to me from my father through our kinship system. I am Kaytetye. Thangkenharenge is our Country and we are of that place. Called Barrow Creek in the colonial tongue but in our language it means place of the bird - in particular, the place of the Zebra Finch. Ngimarre is the Kaytetye word for the Zebra Finch.

I grew up with artists in the family. My uncle Reggie Sultan has been painting since before I was born. My uncle Rexie and my aunties Joannie and June Sultan are also artists and I have watched them paint my entire life. It was through my aunty June that I began painting dot work. Now, me and many of my sisters and nieces also paint dot work, to continue the family tradition. Now that she has passed, I feel it more important to continue her legacy.

Painting at first was a creative outlet when I made it through medical school. My art style is modern abstract often just inspired by my love or colour and occasionally colour of the land. Now I paint both modern art and dot work which has evolved over time and still challenge me creatively. 

My family, my culture, my Country are deeply woven into the fabric of my being as a Kaytetye woman. They are integral to my existence and are threaded into every facet of my life.  Today I am a full-time doctor and part-time artist and occasional photographer. I love the land, the night sky, and wildlife. 

I’m so glad you could stop by.

Sovereignty was never ceded . I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands across this continent. I pay my respects to the elders past and present and I honour and acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People for their continuing connection and care of the land, skies, seas and waterways across this continent.