Nalda Searles

Nalda’s pieces adorn the body with unique shapes created from the fusion of two artists work; her own and Mary Pantiji Mclean’s, an elder from the Ngaanyatjarra lands. Mary has created small items from fragments of wood, which Nalda has intertwined with her headwear. She has been basket-making since 1979, and found herself making a natural progression to body adornment. Her use of fibre textiles combined with her collections of jarrah nuts, hakea nuts, sheoak and clay connects the wearer to a sense of place and memory.

Selected Works

Twined Seed Hat, 1997.

Twined Seed Hat Model: Sarah Pauley @ Viviens Model Management. Image copyright of WA Museum Photo by Penny Lane
Twined Seed Hat
Photo by Penny Lane
Model: Sarah Pauley @ Viviens Model Management. Image copyright of WA Museum

Neckpiece, 1998.

Two Women Making - Minyma Kutkara Neckpiece (string by NS, carved and incised by PMM), 1996 - 2010) By Nalda Searles and Pantjiti Mary Mclean. Image copyright of Nalda Searles Photo by Nalda Searles
Two Women Making - Minyma Kutkara Neckpiece (string by NS, carved and incised by PMM), 1996 - 2010)
Photo by Nalda Searles
By Nalda Searles and Pantjiti Mary Mclean. Image copyright of Nalda Searles

Neckpiece, 1998. by Nalda Searles & Pantjiti Mary Mclean

Neckpiece, 1998. by Nalda Searles & Pantjiti Mary Mclean Photo by Vashti Innes-Brown of installation view from exhibition 'Nalda Searles - drifting in my own land', John Curtin Gallery, 2008. Image copyright John Curtin Gallery.
Neckpiece, 1998. by Nalda Searles & Pantjiti Mary Mclean
Photo by Vashti Innes-Brown of installation view from exhibition 'Nalda Searles - drifting in my own land', John Curtin Gallery, 2008. Image copyright John Curtin Gallery.

Women Travelling Silk Wrap, 2010.

Women Travelling Silk Wrap, (words by NS, screen printed by JP), 2010 Image copyright of Nalda Searles Photo by Nalda Searles
Women Travelling Silk Wrap, (words by NS, screen printed by JP), 2010
Photo by Nalda Searles
Image copyright of Nalda Searles

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