Mary Malbunka was born at the Haasts Bluff mission settlement in 1959. She grew up at Papunya, west of Alice Springs, and has spent most of her life there. She started doing traditional paintings with her family, and she has since worked in both traditional and European styles of art.

In 1985, Mary began working at Papunya School, first as teacher and then as literacy worker. In 2000, she was a key member of the collaborative team of Anangu staff and students who worked to produce Papunya School Book of Country and History, published by Allen & Unwin.

The images in the gallery are from her first solo book, When I Was Little, Like You (Allen&Unwin, 2003)