Aboriginal Fine Art

Tribe: Pintupi

Area: Kintore, Northern Territory

Born: circa 1945

Biography:

Mitjilli Napurrula is a Pintupi woman born at Haasts Bluff. In 1993 she first began painting for the Ikuntji Womens Centre. Her family is one of great importance in the Aboriginal community of Papunya. Her mother is well-known artist Tjunkayi Napaltjarri who was involved in the ‘Minyma Tjukurrpa Project’ and consequently became one of the principal women painters at Kintore. Her Brother is the late chairman of Papunya Tula Artists, Turkey Tolsen (deceased), who is also renowned for his artworks, which are sought by investors all over the world. Mitjilli is married to artist Long Tom Tjapanangka. Long Tom won the prestigious 1999 N.T Telstra Art Award. Mitjilli’s sister is Wintjiya Napaltjarri and wife to Turkey Tolsen’s father, Tupa.
Representing the female side of her tribe’s Dreamings, Mitjilli paints the trees that are used to make spears, whereas her brother Turkey Tolsen painted the Dreaming associated with the spear making itself. Ulwalki, is where the trees are found that provide the wood for spear making.
The majority of her works include strong , vibrant reds, yellows and browns which represent the colours of the land including flowers and plant varieties growing in her country. Mitjilli’s work has an incredible vitality. She has a command of space and colour that trademarks her distinctive style. 

Awards:

1993 - Australian Heritage Award, Canberra
1994 - Northern Territory Art Award, Alice Springs
1999 - Alice Springs Art Award, Alice Springs

Collections:

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
Artbank, Sydney
Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Edith Cowan University Art Collection, Perth