Justine Anderson is Anangu, an Aboriginal person from the Central Desert area of Australia. She grew up in Finke, a community in the Northern Territory, south of Alice Spring where she works in the health clinic. She began selling her carvings through Maruku Arts in 2006 and is one of the few artists to use paint in her designs.  Her skills have been passed on by her mothers and other family members through the Tjukurpa, the Law and way of life governing her country.

Our name, Maruku, literally means “belonging to black”. This is because Maruku is owned and operated by Anangu (Aboriginal people from the Western and Central Deserts of Australia). For over 30 years Maruku has operated as a not-for-profit art and craft corporation.

Our logo is ‘tali’ design. ‘Tali’ means sand dunes. You will see this pattern describing country is significant throughout our artists’ art and woodcarvings. The desert, this sand dune country is what they call home.

Approximately 900 Anangu artists make up the collective that is Maruku. Our purpose is to keep culture strong and alive, for future generations of artists and make culture accessible in an authentic way to those that seek a more in-depth understanding. We also provide an important form of income to artists living in remote communities across Anangu lands.

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Wally Brooks is a young carver and artist at Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association. He is mentored by senior carver Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri and spends most of his days working in the open air Murrunungumirri carving workshop. He uses locally sourced ironwood and earth pigments to make tokwampini (birds), figurative works which represent the Tiwi creation story, tutuni poles and ceremonial spears.

After finishing High School at Tiwi College here on Melville Island, Wally lived for a while at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point), but then moved to Milikapiti with his partner to bring up their young family. He started working at Jilamara in 2017.

Wally is also a staff member at the organization, collecting ironwood and ochres for the studios and he also heads up the bark collecting team during wet season – harvesting and seasoning purrungupari (flat barks) and tunga (bark baskets) for artists to paint throughout the year. Wally is also a keen dancer contributes to many of the funded culture projects here at the art centre, often helping senior artists teach culture and share skills with the local primary and high school students through the Culture Class program. He has sat on the Executive Committee of the organisation and is a strong voice for the art centre’s young membership.

In 2019, he was a significant part of Paralika Tutini Jilamara, a major install of Tiwi tutini poles at the Art Gallery of South Australia for Tarnanthi. He travelled to Adelaide for the opening and performed Tiwi Yoyi (dance) for the projects public program. He is also part of the collaborative artist-led film project YOYI (dance) which premiered internationally at Gropius Bau in Berlin and was curated into The National 4: Australian Art Now at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

Courtesy of Jilamara Arts & Crafts

Conway Ginger hails from Docker River and moved to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in 2004. He is a passionate football supporter, music lover and an eager artist and joined the Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists in 2012. Conway’s lively sense of humour is evident in his artwork. Fresh and vivid lines communicate his passions and inspirations, drawn from everyday life.

Conway is known for his ink and wash works on paper which have been well-received in the Australian art world- their immediacy and honesty speaking to many. Since he began exhibiting in 2012, Conway has had many solo exhibitions and his works have featured in Art Collector and As We Are publications. It is an exciting time for Conway whose expanding body of work progresses through new techniques and artistic mediums such as watercolours, fabric, textiles and print-making.

Geraldine Napangardi Granites was born and has lived in Yuendumu all her life. Yuendumu is a remote Aboriginal community located 290 kms north-west of Alice Springs in the NT of Australia. Geraldine is the daughter of Alma Nungarrayi Granites, a strong participant of Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation and granddaughter of Paddy Japaljarri Sims (dec) and Bessie Nakamarra Sims (Dec): two of Warlukurlangu Artists founding artists. She attended the local school and has two sisters and one brother who also paint with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu. She also has four children, 2 sons and 2 daughters. She is a shy person who is very involved with her large extended family and enjoys being around children and helping the family’s grandchildren. Geraldine learns by observing her grandfather’s art works as well as Judy Napangardi Watson’s work (a Warlpiri artist who is at the forefront of a move towards more abstract rendering of Jukurrpa /Dreaming stories). When Judy visits Yuendumu and the Warlukurlangu Art Centre Geraldine loves to listen to Judy’s stories about a special country, Mina Mina. She also paints alongside her mother Alma and sister Sabrina and observes them while they paint their art work. Geraldine is working hard to develop a modern interpretation of the traditional culture. Geraldine started painting at the Centre in 2001 and paints the Mina Mina Dreaming story which is an important woman’s story.

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Datjuluma lives and works in Gunyangara (Ski Beach) in North East Arnhemland. She is married to Djawa Yunupingu senior Gumatj clan leader and younger brother of Galarrwuy Yunupiŋu one of the most senior Gumatj Clan leaders.

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Her father Waratjima Guyula was part of a small number of Djambarrpuyŋu clan members who lived around Yirrkala whilst most of this large clan are based in Western Yolŋu country. There is an ancient sacred connection between this clan and the Rirratjiŋu landowners of Yirrkala stemming form a shared songline Djarrak – the sea tern. Her mother Naminapu Maymuru is a well known Maŋgalili artist whom is famous for her paintings of the Milŋiyawuy, Milky Way paintings as well as her more classical Maŋgalili bark paintings. Naminapu and her family were part of the thriving artist’s school which developed around her grandfathers Narritjin and Nanyin Maymuru.

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Datjuluma is following both her parents in there artistic careers and is forming a strong visual identity as a powerful artist in her own right.

Brenda James was born and raised in the Pitjantjatjara community of Kaltukatjara (Docker River), west of Uluru in the far south west of the Northern Territory. She began carving and painting as a teenager and has received dedicated instruction from her parents, the late Yvonne James and Jim Nyukuti, both experienced traditional carvers and founding executive members of the Maruku organisation.

Lavinia Ketchell is one of Erub Arts exciting contemporary artist from Darnley Island in the Torres Strait.

From her humble beginnings crafting ghost net jewellery, Lavinia has emerged as a beacon of innovation, sharing insights into the detrimental impact of ghost nets. Lavinia's artistry not only captivates audiences worldwide but also serves as a poignant reminder of our responsibility to protect marine ecosystems. With each exhibition, she continues to inspire change, solidifying her status as an important artist dedicated to both creativity and conservation.

Esmerelda Kulitja is the daughter of well known artist Rene Kulitja and granddaughter of renowned wood carvers Topsy Tjulyata and Walter Pukutiwara. As a school student with Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal College she painted with Walkatjara Art and did her first painting for Maruku in February, 2007. Esmerelda grew up in the Mutitjulu Community in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park where her family was strongly involved in traditional land management, tourism and the arts. More recently she has been living in her father’s country at Docker River.

Karen Napaljarri Barnes was born in 1992 in Lajamanu, a remote Aboriginal community in semi-arid country on the edge of the Tanami Desert 1000km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. She moved to Yuendumu, 700km south, after finishing school in Lajamanu, to be with her family. She has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed Art Centre, since 2001. She is the grand-daughter of Warlukurlangus’s famous artist Judy Napangardi Watson and they would sit together painting at the Art Centre every day when Karen first started painting. Karen paints the dreaming stories handed down to her by her family for generations of millenia, stories which come from Mina Mina, country west of Yuendumu of which her family are the custodians. She also paints Karnta Jukurrpa (Women’s Dreaming), Wakulyarri Jukurrpa (Wallaby Dreaming), Ngarlajiyi Jukurrpa (Bush Carrot Dreaming). Karen loves sport, especially basketball and softball, and is an avid football spectator, barracking for Lajamanu.

I grew up in Pormpuraaw. I speak two traditional languages plus English. When I was a girl we lived in a tin houses with no electricity. Our shop was a tin shack with no refrigeration no electricity nothing. My mom taught me how to hunt for turtle, crabs, fishing and use of plants. I went to primary school here them went to State School in Herberton. I did not like it there and then went to Warick. I went till grade 10 and then wet to Wangetti and did year 11 and 12. I repeated grade 12 twice then went to work as a cashier here at council office. I worked at council office fore two years then worked at airport. Worked at our local community heath organisation named Pormpur Paanth and worked in administration office for 3 years. I raised two boys named Zachariah and Jamie. I have always enjoyed painting and drawing. I enjoy sewing dresses and skirts kids clothes. I like to paint my totems. The totems that belong to my father and mother. Totems are our ancestors. Totems which country we belong to. Totems are what we become when we die. By painting my totems I am connecting to culture and my identity.

Wilma Napangardi Poulson was born in 1970 in Yuendumu, a remote Aboriginal community 290 km from Alice Springs in NT of Australia. She has a sister, Ivy Napangardi Poulson, an artist also working with Warlukurlangu Artists, and a brother who alternates between Darwin and Nyirripi. Wilma went to the local school in Yuendumu, then to Yirara College in Alice Springs. When she finished schooling she returned to Yuendumu. Wilma has been painting with Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal owned and governed art centre located in Yuendumu, since 2004. She paints several dreamings, but the ones that feature constantly are the Bush Banana Dreaming depicting Vaughan Springs country and the Snake Vine Dreaming relating to Mt Theo area. These Dreamings were passed down to her by her father and his father’s father for millennia. These stories relate to her land, its features and the plants and animals that inhabit it. Wilma was married but her husband passed away. She has no children but loves to take care of her nephew.

“My father taught me everything about carving, how to use carving tools, what wood to use and what colours. He was the late great Murrunungumirri (Paddy Freddy)” – Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri

Patrick began painting with Jilamara Arts and Craft when he left school at 17. He has been part of the organisation as it has developed into a prominent arts organisation since the late 1980s. He said he always wanted to be an artist, learning from his father Paddy Freddy Puruntatameri, a highly respected and renowned carver.

Paddy taught young Patrick “to do this and to do that”. He drew for him, taught him how to use the chisel and mallet properly as well as showing him the right wood to use for carving and to make spears. Paddy showed him the right colours for painting, how to make red and where to get it.

Patrick is a loving father of five children and a well-respected senior artist at Jilamara – he is well known for skillfull carvings of his totem the jurrukukuni (owl). He manages the Jilmara carving workshop, which is named after his father and is a mentor for younger artists learning traditional Tiwi carving and jilamara (body paint design)

His works are held in many major collections Australia wide including the National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne) and the Queensland Art Gallery (Brisbane). He has had great success throughout his long career including major group and solo exhibitions. Most recently Patrick has been commissioned to make tutini poles for Paralika tutini Jilamara (2019) – a major group exhibition of Tiwi tutini at the Art Gallery of South Australia and NIRIN: the 22^nd Biennale of Sydney at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (2020).

Courtesy of Jilamara Arts and Crafts

My name is Tony Cameron. I live in Gapuwiyak Community with my wife and children. I am a fibre sculpture artist and like to make birds, crocodiles, buffalo and lizards, these are woven from pandanus fibre and filled with paperbark, materials we collect from our local area. I work together with my wife Penny to make these animals.

Dianne Strangways is minyma Anangu, an Aboriginal woman based in the community of Indulkana on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands of northern South Australia. She works there as a Health worker in the local clinic where her role includes helping with information sharing, advocacy and liaison across the community and advising non-indigenous staff on culture. She is also a member of the Nganampa Health Council. Dianne is a prolific, talented and committed artist. Her work has been exhibited overseas and she is rapidly gaining a reputation for her individual approach to her piti walkatjara (decorated traditional bowls) with her bold tjala (honey ants) and other traditional bush foods. She has also developed her own unique style of animal carving.

"I'm Desmond Taylor. I'm a Purungu man. My Country is Karlamilyi. Who taught me how to paint? My father taught me, my mother. The story I paint is about Karlamilyi, the Country where my ancestors lived and walked and gathered food.

My favourite thing to do outside of painting is go looking for bush tucker, bush medicine, going hunting, collecting fire wood, getting back in touch with the Country. I feel pukurlpa (happy), I feel happy when I paint. It brings happiness, connection, family. It keeps the stories alive to have that connection to ngurra (home Country, camp) Country." - Desmond Taylor

Desmond was born in 1964 close to the bed of the Oakover River. Two years later his family moved into Jigalong - they were amongst the last Martu to live entirely in the desert without access to rations. Desmond went to school in Nullagine and Perth, and now works as a professional translator and educator as well as an artist. Desmond primarily paints his family's Country around Karlamilyi (Rudall River) and the creation stories for that Country, especially the Nyayartakujarra (Ngayarta Kujarra, Lake Dora) Dreaming.

Jimmy (John) Thaiday was born on Thursday Island in 1978 and grew up in Erub, Torres Strait, where he continues to live and work.

Jimmy trained as a carpenter before pursuing a career as an artist. He has had a lifelong passion for drawing, depicting the fish and marine life on the reef surrounding the island where he grew up. For Jimmy, art is a means of expressing his identity while sharing his culture and beliefs.

Jimmy has been represented in major national and international exhibitions, including WARWAR: The art of the Torres Strait, Newcastle Art Gallery 2021; and Taba Naba, Oceanography Museum, Monaco 2016. His work is represented in major collections in Australia and overseas.

He is represented by Erub Arts, Torres Strait, Queensland.

“ I was born in Paramita near Indulkana in the bush, and was given my name at Todd Morden station. As a boy I was grown up by my sister in the nearby station Amuroona, then as a young man in Mimili. I spent much of my working life as a stockman in the northern lands of South Australia before returning to my father’s country, Uluru. I was strong from hard work on horses, but my brother Cassidy was quicker. Mostly we looked after cattle, and sometimes camels. Had to be careful as they were mean…bite you.”

As a well-known traditional owner of Uluru, Reggie took part in the official handback by the Australian Federal Government in 1985. He worked as a ranger in the jointly managed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park before becoming a tour guide with Anangu Tours.

He has taught countless visitors his ancestral lore and is a leading elder in Mutitjulu community and senior singer for ceremony at Uluru.

“I feel proud to teach young ones about Country, my Tjukurpa, our learning stories, about family ancestors, how to find waterholes and best tucker. Show them the right way, connection to culture how my father taught me long time ago. I now live at old people’s (aged care) in Mutitjulu, where I paint Wati Ngintaka (Perentie Lizard Man).”

- Reggie Uluru

Courtesy of Walkatjara Art Uluru 2023

Keith Wikmunea was born in 1967 in Aurukun.  He was raised in Aurukun by his parents.  Keith is from the Language group Wik-Alken (mother’s side) and Wik-Mungkan (father’s side). His totems are the White Cookatoo, Goanna from his father’s side and the Galah and Frilled-neck lizard from this mother’s side. Keith’s country is Kencherang (father’s side) which is south from Aurukun. There’s a large freshwater lagoon there. During the wet season the saltwater comes up the creek during the high tides. “There is one large creek that comes into that country which splits out into my mother’s country called Ti-tree”. When the freshwater breaks out in the wet season it joins with the creek at Kencherang and connects to the saltwater.  Keith belongs to the Apalech Clan from his father’s side. His mother’s side is the Winchanam Clan. As an artist, Keith is passionate about passing on his creative and cultural knowledge to future generations. His vision is for Wik and Kugu people to keep their culture strong and alive.

Courtesy of Wik & Kugu - Aurukun Art Centre