Senior Luritja artist Doris Bush Nungarrayi has won the Sulman Prize 2023 and $40,000 for her work Mamunya ngalyananyi (Monster coming), depicting several Mamus, the ominous and malevolent spirits that terrify Aṉangu.

A first-time finalist in both the Sulman and Wynne Prizes 2023, Nungarrayi is the second Aboriginal artist to win the Sulman Prize.

Mamus or ‘cheeky ones’, as Nungarrayi refers to them, are typically seen to have large haunting eyes, straight hair standing upright, and can shapeshift into many different forms, including the human figure. The mamu usually hide in underground dwellings or inside hollow trees.

Nungarrayi was born in Ikuntji/Haasts Bluff, 250 kilometres west of Mparntwe/Alice Springs and lives in Papunya in the Northern Territory. She paints vivid memories, stories and dreams from her life.

The Sulman Prize is awarded for the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist and is judged by a guest artist each year. This year’s Sulman Prize judge was artist Sydney artist Nell, who selected 45 finalists.

‘I really love how each figure in Doris Bush Nungarrayi’s painting has an individual character that is simultaneously scary and cheeky. Yet collectively, these shapeshifters look like they are popping off the canvas and coming toward me, just as I am magnetically drawn to them. Mamunya Ngalyananyi (Monster coming) is a clear and powerful painting and a very deserving winner of the 2023 Sulman Prize,’ said Nell.

All finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2023 will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW from 6 May to 3 September 2023.