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2023 Revealed Exhibition: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists

Jennifer Nginyaka Mitchell

Born

Kala Tjutji

Lives and works

Papulankutja / Blackstone

Jennifer was born in 1955 at Kala Tjuti near Irruntju (Wingellina) in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. As a child, Jennifer travelled across the APY Lands with her family and was near Maralinga when atomic rocket testing was conducted by the British, American and Australian Defense Forces. Her grandfather became ill from the radioactive fallout and died soon after. Having returned from Oodnadatta, SA, Jennifer and her family hid in a wiltja (bush shelter) at Watinuma to be safe from the bomb, only coming out at night when the smoke was gone. Jennifer became a senior custodian of the Kuru Ala Seven Sisters site after her mother Eileen Tjayanka Woods passed away. She started making tjanpi (grass) baskets in 1995 and has been painting since 2008. Jennifer is also an accomplished basket-maker and sculptor, making animated dogs and caricatures of people out of wool and grass.

visit FOUND at Fremantle Arts Centre

Open 9am–5pm, 7 days

Location

1 Finnerty Street
Fremantle
Western Australia