PAPULANKUTJA ARTISTS

PAPULANKUTJA ARTISTS (Blackstone) is a remote Aboriginal community located at the foothills of the Blackstone Ranges within the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. The Art Centre is a small community-based enterprise focusing on providing a means for the Ngaanyatjarra people of Papulankutja to earn an income. Papulankutja Artists evolved out of the Women’s Centre where painting has been encouraged as an activity since 2001. Papulankutja Artists was registered as an Aboriginal Corporation in 2004. This was a significant milestone as the artists were able to govern their Art Centre independently.

In 2009, Papulankutja Artists moved into a purpose-built Art Centre with rooms for men and women to paint. Alongside their unique painting style, Papulankutja artists are known for their innovative fibre work and carvings from local wood. As Yanangu custodians, the artists play a major role in maintaining culture, law, and storytelling practices which are still commonplace across the lands. The Art Centre also works with Mantamaru (Jameson), a community 75km to the west, as part of the regional arts outreach program. There are now more than 100 artists at Papulankutja and Mantamaru benefitting from working under the umbrella of Papulankutja Artists.