Tjunkaya Tapaya Australian - Western / Central Desert, b. 1947

Tjunkaya grew up at Ernabella Mission where she went to school and later worked learning and demonstrating to her peers various domestic skills including sewing, cooking, and house cleaning, using European equipment and methods. Tjunkaya also worked in the art centre and has become one of its outstanding batik artists. She also excels in ceramics, print making and painting. Her work has been seen in many exhibitions in Australia and overseas since 1971. She has had three children, one of whom passed away in 2005 and was also an exceptional artist.