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MADIGAN THOMAS

Madigan Thomas (circa 1927 – August 2011) was a distinguished Aboriginal Australian painter and a pivotal figure in the Warmun (Turkey Creek) art movement in Western Australia. Born at Violet Valley Station, south of Warmun, she was a proud Kitja Law woman deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. In her youth, Madigan assisted with domestic duties around Violet Valley Station, learning the depths of her culture from her elders. After moving to Mabel Downs Station, she worked alongside her husband, Sandy, a stockman, participating in cattle mustering—a testament to her strength and resilience. Madigan began painting in the mid-1980s, alongside renowned artist Queenie McKenzie and other Warmun women. Her style was characterized by silhouetted landforms outlined in fine dots, depicting pathways and Dreaming tracks that meander through her paintings. Her works ranged from delicately dotted landscapes to vivid black lines representing significant sites, reflecting both her connection to the land and her cultural narratives.