Katrina Tjitayi — 'Ngayuku Ngura', 2025

Tjitayi depicts connections to country through walka (design or mark making), referencing the landscape of the APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands.

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Katrina was born and went to school in Ernabella. Her mother was one of the first Anangu teachers at Ernabella Anangu School in the 1940s. On leaving school Katrina studied at UniSA through the AnTEP program, obtaining a Bachelor of Education. She has worked in Anangu education for more than 20 years including as the Anangu School Improvement Coordinator.

She first began painting at the art centre in late 2016, working initially in painting and then trying her hand at ceramic art too. Her work has been exhibited around Australia and overseas, including Sydney, Alice Springs, Darwin, Broome, Mittagong and Brussels, Belgium. Katrina is a mother to two children and a strong advocate for children’s rights. She is a published author including as co-presenter and writer of ‘Red Dirt Curriculum: Re-imagining Remote Education’, presented as part of the Sidney Myer Rural Lecture series in 2013.

In 2018 she won the 2018 Aunty Josie Agius Award for her work as the Wellbeing Coordinator, her current position at Ernabella Anangu School.

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Iriwi Arts Centre and Craft Victoria 

Iwiṟi was established by Aṉangu in 2018, many of whom had been forced to move to Adelaide due to chronic health conditions and lack of services in their home communities. Living far from their traditional homelands, Anangu were concerned about the cultural and social isolation they were experiencing and saw a need to act. Iwiri was formed initially to help retain, promote and transmit Anangu culture and language through the areas of arts, language, knowledge and community. Since then Iwiṟi has grown rapidly into an organization that delivers a range of programs that aim to strengthen and advance Aṉangu wellbeing.

Iriwi's Artists range from highly experienced elders and knowledge custodians through to younger emerging artists. Iwiri studio is used by Anangu artists living in Adelaide as well as artists from the APY lands who are visiting for health or social reasons. The Art Studio has a strong ceramics and painting program and is experimenting with textiles.

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Material: Clay sculptural vessel

Dimensions:  310 x 85 x 30mm

Cat. no: 25-263