Tjawina Porter Nampitjinpa

Untitled - Ancestral Country  |  130h x 200w  |  RK697

Not framed or stretched  |  Acrylic on canvas

Tjawina Porter Nampitjinpa was born circa 1940 and grew up in the desert near Yumara where she lived the traditional nomadic lifestyle with her family. After the death of her father, her family moved to the then newly established government settlement of Papunya.

Tjawina has been a life-long companion to her sisters Mrs Bennett, Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa, and Esther Giles Nampitjinpa, all established Western Desert artists. Of the three Nyurapayia has been the most outstanding, being a powerful presence in the 1994 Women’s painting camp held for Haasts Bluff and Kintore women.

This event announced the arrival of the women desert artists, who until that time had largely worked in the background for their men folk. This important event was timely, as the family of Tjawina and Nyurapayia had moved to Papunya in the early days of this government settlement, and had been at the centre of the art movement that had emerged from there.

Like other desert artists who moved from their homelands, Tjawina maintained a strong connection to her ancestral country around Docker River. Now living back at Docker River with her sister Esther Giles Nampitjinpa, Tjawina paints some of those important Dreaming sites from her birthplace.

Tjawina has gained worldwide recognition, participating in many national and international group exhibitions. Her works are represented in many private and public collections in Australia and overseas.