Nganuwaay Koolyn is a descendant of the Gamilaroi people of the Brewarrina (Ngunnhu) area and the ancient dry-stone fish traps. Nganuwaay has exhibited in Europe, USA, UK and nationally.

Nganuwaay sold her first painting at the ripe age of 17 to a Belgium official and has won several art competitions since. With her brother she curated her first exhibition for her dad at the age of 10 and has since provided artwork for many Indigenous communities for their NAIDOC Celebrations. At the age of 18 Nganuwaay Koolyn was an assistant Director of the National Illicit Drug Campaign in Queensland and held classes for local community members in art, crafts and cooking.

Nganuwaay Koolyn’s artwork is inspired by the Dreaming, Traditions and stories of her ancestry. Her natural and devoted connection with the spiritual vibrations of her culture, flow into her artwork creating a balance of harmonies and spiritual visualisations. Her artwork is unique, beautiful and spiritual breathtaking.

Currently Nganuwaay is undertaking her Bachelor’s Degree in Adult Education and for many years she has worked with Aboriginal communities in literacy, numeracy and Aboriginal Culture and protocol. Additionally Nganuwaay Koolyn is working as an Aboriginal Education Assistant, Cultural Advisor and councillor to Aboriginal children and young adults at two major Sydney High Schools. She has also appeared as an actor in several Australian Drama series and is well known for her pastille dot work on wedding dresses and satin outfits and accessories.

Nganuwaay is the daughter of Mundara Koorang, renowned International and National Aboriginal Art and Elder of the Eora (Sydney) people.Nganuwaay’s great grandmother and great-great grandmother were born in Ngunnhu area. Nganuwaay’s great grandmother was separated from her family after the death of her mother, when she was only 13 and was sent to the Cootamundra Home for Girls under the banner of assimilation. At Cootamundra, Aboriginal girls were instructed to 'think white, look white, and act white'. This was part of the process to make the girls suitable wives for white men, in the hope that through interracial marriages, Aboriginal blood would be 'bred out'. They were taught to look down on their own people and to fear Aboriginal men. There were many horror stories of what the girls had to suffer at the Cootamundra Girls Home before its
closure in 1969.