Lydia Balbal is a Mangala woman. She was married to the Yulparija artist Nabiru Bullen until his death in 2009. Lydia's country is near Punmu in the Great Sandy Desert of W.A. Her people's existence was threatened by severe drought so that they had little choice but to leave their traditional country. Her family were some of the last to walk out to the coastal town of Bidyadanga (then La Grange Mission) located two hours south of Broome in the early 70s. Lydia has only been painting since 2007 but has already received significant attention from collectors and the media alike.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Australian Newspaper, Revelatory Show of Strength in Tradition, Nicholas Rothwell, August 16, 2010
The Australian Newspaper, Turning Landscape on its Head, Nicholas Rothwell, December 8 2008
The Australian Newspaper, In the Shadow of Modernity, Nicholas Rothwell, December 13, 2008
The Age Newspaper, Dreamtime Designers, Bruce Elder, March 15 2008

COLLECTIONS
Aboriginal Art Museum, The Netherlands
Thomas Vroom Collection, The Netherlands
National Gallery of Victoria
Queensland Art Gallery
Laverty Collection
Artbank
Monash University Art Collection
Lepley Collection