Kathleen Tjapalyi was a senior Pitjantjatjara woman committed to traditional law and culture. Kathleen was born at Iwantja, east of Mimili Community. Her father’s country is Makirri, near Fregon and her mother’s country is Iltur, near Coffin Hill. Her family travelled over from Watarru once they had heard that white people were handing out rations, so this is where Kathleen was born. Her family continued to move around before they settled and found work at Everard Park station, Mimili.
Kathleen grew up on the outskirts of Everard Park station and later worked at the station cleaning dishes, tending to the garden and looking after the children of the station managers. Kathleen met her husband in Mimili (now deceased) and they had three children together. Her eldest son is now passed away, the younger two live with Kathleen in Mimili.
Kathleen Tjapalyi was raised in the bush and lived a traditional life. Kathleen has a huge knowledge of traditional inma and country and she continues to pass this on to the younger generations through her paintings and dance. Kathleen began painting late 2010, her marks are raw and her works are set to excite national and international markets.
Kathleen Tjapalyi passed away in October 2016.
Group Exhibitions
2017 Continuing Culture, Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle, WA
2016 Tjilpi munu Pampaku Tjukurpa Kunpu Kanyintjaku, RAFT Artspace, Alice Springs, NT
2015 Putinguru Urukuta – Desert to the Sea, Short Street Gallery, Broome, WA
2015 Ngunytju Kurunpa – Mother Spirit, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT
2014 Mimili Maku – Nganampa Wangka (our voice), Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
2014 Uwankara Nganana Mimili Maku Arts, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT
2013 Kinara Pulkapakani, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
2013 APY Survey Show, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT
2013 Antara, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, NSW
2012 Ngura Puti (Bush Home) Redot Gallery, Singapore
2012 Wapar – Yankunytjatjara Dreaming, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
2012 Desert Mob, Araleun Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2012 Mimili Maku Alinytjara, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT
2012 Kapi Warku, Aboriginal and Pacific Arts, Sydney, NSW
2012 Tjukurpa Kunpu, A.P. Bond Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2012 One Song Different Tune, Short St Gallery, Broome, WA
2011 Waltjapiti Mimili Maku Exhibition, RAFT Artspace, Alice Springs, NT
2011 Mimili Maku Mirinpa exhibition, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2011 Desert Mob, Araleun Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2011 Nganampa Paintingku Nyuwana, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
2011 Tjukuritja Kunpu Kanyitjaku – Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney, NSW
2011 Mimili Maku Arts, A.P. Bond Gallery, Adelaide, SA
Collections
Private Collections