Date of Birth: c1949
Died: May 2009
Region: Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) Western Arnhem Land
Outstation / Country: Namokardabu
Language: Kunwinjku
Language Group: Mayali
Social Affiliations: Yirritja moiety, Nawamud subsection
Bruce went to school in Oenpelli and has lived there for most of his life. He was taught to paint by his father Bilinyara Nabegeyo, a renowned artist, when he was about twelve. Bruce Nabegeyo learnt to grind ochre and paint on Bark. The Nabegeyo family is artistic, with Bruce’s brother Mukguddu and sons Elijah, Charles and Linton all accomplished artists. His father’s country is Mandilbaneng. His mother’s country is Mumeka. Bruce was a great narrative painter. He painted great evil faces on Namorrodoh, the spirit devil. He tended to work alone on his paintings. Bruce has travelled to Darwin on numerous occasions for the openings of exhibitions. Bruce was married with 3 children. He was a ceremony man and had the great responsibilities that go with it. He also sang many of the ceremonial songs and has recorded some of his songs on CD.
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Collections:
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
South Australian Museum, Adelaide.
The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth.
Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin. The John W. Kluge Collection, Virginia, USA
Group Exhibitions:
1987, The 4th National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.
1990, Tagari Lia: My Family, Contemporary Aboriginal Art 1990 -from Australia, Third Eye Centre, Glasgow,
1993 Framed Gallery, Darwin NT: 1993 Birukmarri Gallery, Fremantle WA
1993, The 10th National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.
1994, The 11th National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.
1995, The 12th National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin.
1996, The 13th National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT, Darwin
1998 Dreamings, Spazio Pitti Arte, Florence, Italy
1998 From Bush to City, Hogarth Galleries, Sydney
1998 Desert Designs, Japingka Gallery, Perth WA
2000, Australian Heritage Commission’s 5th National Indigenous Art Award.
Selected Biography:
Aboriginal Arts Management Association, 1990, Contemporary Aboriginal Art 1990 – from Australia (presented by the Aboriginal Arts Committee, Australia Council and Third Eye Centre, Glasgow), exhib. cat., Redfern, New South Wales. (C)
Caruana, W., 1993, Aboriginal Art, Thames and Hudson, London. (C)
Isaacs, J., 1989, Australian Aboriginal Paintings, Weldon Publishing, New South Wales.
1994, Kunwinjku Art from Injalak 1991-1992, The John W. Kluge Commission, Museum Arts International Pty. Ltd., North Adelaide.
1999, Contemporary paintings from Western Arnhemland, Flinders Art Museum, Flinders University, Adelaide.
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