One of the Ikuntji Art Centre's most famous painters, Narputta Nangala was born about 1933 at Kaarkurutinytja (Lake MacDonald). Whilst she was still a very small child her family, pressured by the increasing hardships the nomadic way of life, travelled across the western desert from Kaarkurutinytja into the missionary community of Haasts Bluff.  Her father, Tjalakunya, went back out bush leaving his family with a secure source of food at the mission.

With her brother, Riley Major, she was sent to Jay Creek for schooling, after which she returned to Haasts Bluff, sometimes travelling back & forth from Jay Creek herding goats or collecting dingo scalps for trading. After some time she accepted the job of cook at the community, this included preparing meals for the stockmen when they came in from their work. She soon married the head stockman, Timmy Jugadai, and took on a more important role within the Haasts Bluff Community.

Narputta Nangala assisted her husband - Timmy Tjungurrayi Jugadai - who painted in the mid-1970's and intermittently into the 1980's for Papunya Tula. She is also sister to Riley Major and George Tjangala, both of whom have had long associations with Papunya Tula.