Lydia Balbal is a Mangala woman. She was married to the Yulparija artist Nabiru Bullen until his death in 2009. Balbal’s country is near Punmu in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia.
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. Balbal first began painting in 2007 but has already received significant attention from collectors and the media alike. She has exhitibed extensivley throughout Australia and internationally.
Balbal is the recent winner of the Telstra General Painting Award 2025.
Balbal is the recent winner of the Telstra General Painting Award 2025.