Lala Brown Australian, Pitjantjatjara, b. 1986

Sophia Lala Brown was born in Kalgoorlie. Her mother, whose country Pilki is just to the west of Tjuntjuntjara Community was living in Coonana at the time Of birth. This is before the Spinifex people made the long journey back to their traditional Lands in the Great Victoria Desert after being displaced during the late 1950's due to the atomic testings by the British and Australian Governments. She has paternal connection to the 'Seven Sisters' significant site Of Kulyuru, situated to the north of traditional Spinifex Lands, Today Lala lives in Tjuntjuntjara where as well as painting she is a leading creative with the Milpa project, a dedicated new media space managed by SAP. She and the Milpa team won the Inland Art prize' Leonora 2019 for their short animation, patju. Sophia is a staff member for the Spinifex Arts Project.

 

"My name is Lala grown and I was born in Kalgoorlie in 1986 but grew up in Coonana With my mother, father, brother and sister. When I was older, we moved to Tjuntjuntjara and stayed with my tjamu (grandfather) on my father's side (Mr Lennard Walker). I have lived in Tjuntjuntjara most of my life and now have two beautiful children, Sweeney and Zara, who go to school in community. I have been painting and working at the Spinifex Arts Centre With my husband Timo for many years now. I love being here, on Country."