Sonia Kurrara (1951) grew up in the river country at Noonkanbah (Yungngnora), south-west of Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She has workedthrough Mangkaja Arts since its establishment in the early 1990s and in recent yearshas become known for her vibrant, energetic paintings that celebrate her riverlandhome.​
“Martuwarra is my river country; this painting is all about the Fitzroy River which flows down through Nookanbah where I live. All kinds of fish live in the water, we catch big mob of fish here. I like Parlka (barrumundi). We catch catfish and brim here too. Nganku(shark), wirritunany (sawfish) and stingray also live here. These fish live in these waters long after the flood has gone.”​

Sonia Kurarra grew up in the river country at Yungngora (Noonkanbah). She used to help the kindergarten teacher with teaching art. They used to take the children out to the Sandy Billabong and teach them how to paint and dance and learn about the ngarrangkarni [Dreamtime] snake that lives in the billabong. His name isNangurra.​
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Sonia paints the sandy billabong country along the stretch of the Fitzroy River thatruns directly behind the community. After the floodwaters recede, there are billabongs that hold a plentiful supply of parlka [barramundi], kurlumajarti [catfish] and bream. She paints gapi [fish], parrmarr [rocks] where the fish iscooked, ngurti [coolamon] and a karli [boomerang].​
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Sonia began painting at Mangkaja Arts in the early 1990s working mostly on paper. Since 2008, Sonia has been working predominantly on canvas, exhibiting in numerousgroup shows. Sonia had an overwhelming response to her first solo show in 2009 and has since established herself as one of Mangkaja Arts leading contemporary artists.