Peggy Madijarroong Griffiths grew up on Newry Station where she learned about her culture and bush life from her elders, in resistance to the assimilation policies being practiced in Australia at that time. Griffiths’ work reflects her strong commitment to her Miriwoong culture, with elegant imagery that resonates with references to cultural performance of which she is a renowned dancer. The winding of waterways mimics the sinuous and graceful body movements of a dancer; the outlining dotting reflects a performer’s body painting. Her works document the traditional country of her mother and grandfather, and her recent works capture the movement of wind through the spinifex country, which for the artist is evidence that the spirit of culture is alive.
Griffiths began working with Waringarri Aboriginal Arts in 1985, carving and painting boab nuts and boomerangs. Later moving to painting on canvas and working with limited edition prints, she is the first indigenous artist to win the prestigious Fremantle Print Award.
Committed to keeping the stories of her grandfather alive and maintaining her connection to culture, Griffith’s teaches traditional dances at Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre, and is a highly respected senior artist and leader within her community. Griffiths received a Fellowship by the Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts and represented Western Australia in the Great Australian Landscape Project at the Biennale of Australian Art in 2018. Her has exhibited internationally with work part of multiple public and private collections.