Clarise Tunkin

Clarise Tunkin Paintings

Quick Facts

Born: 1993, Alice Springs, Northern Territory


Language Group: Pitjantjatjara


Community: Kanpi, APY Lands, South Australia


Known For: Minyma Marlilu Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) paintings


Medium: Acrylic on canvas


Themes: Country, ancestral stories, women's Dreaming, and cultural heritage

Clarise Tunkin is an acclaimed Pitjantjatjara artist from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia. Known for her vibrant interpretations of ancestral stories, Clarise Tunkin's art reflects a deep connection to Country, family, and cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from generations of renowned Aboriginal artists, she has established herself as one of the most exciting contemporary voices in Australian Indigenous art.

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Clarise Tunkin Facts and Early Life

Born in Alice Springs in 1993, Clarise belongs to a distinguished family of Aboriginal artists. Her great-grandfather was the celebrated Jimmy Baker, a founding artist of Kanpi, while her grandmother, Kay Baker, and her mother, Teresa Baker, have continued the family's strong artistic tradition. She also learned alongside her aunt, Kani Tunkin.

Clarise grew up in the community of Kanpi in the APY Lands, located near the Mann Ranges of South Australia. Raised within Pitjantjatjara culture, she was taught the stories, customs, and sacred responsibilities associated with her ancestral Country. Her mother played an important role in passing on this cultural knowledge, taking Clarise to significant sites connected with family Dreaming stories from a young age.

The Story Behind Clarise Tunkin Minyma Marlilu Tjukurrpa

A defining feature of Clarise Tunkin’s Minyma Marlilu Tjukurrpa paintings is their connection to Marlilu, an important Pitjantjatjara ancestral creation figure. In the Pitjantjatjara language, "Minyma" means "woman," while "Tjukurrpa" refers to the Dreaming or the spiritual law that connects people, Country, and ancestral beings.

Clarise paints the stories associated with Marlilu, a powerful female ancestor whose journeys across the landscape helped shape important cultural sites. These stories have been carefully preserved through generations and are an essential part of her family's cultural inheritance.

As with many Aboriginal Dreaming narratives, certain aspects of the story are sacred and remain within the community. Through her paintings, Clarise respectfully shares symbolic elements of these ancestral journeys while protecting important cultural knowledge.

Clarise Tunkin Paintings

Clarise Tunkin Art and Artistic Style

Clarise Tunkin's art is instantly recognisable for its energetic compositions, bold lines, and striking use of colour. Her paintings combine traditional APY Lands artistic practices with her own contemporary interpretation, creating works that are both culturally significant and visually captivating.

Working primarily with acrylic on canvas, Clarise creates layered patterns that represent:

  • Sacred landscapes.
  • Ceremonial pathways.
  • Waterholes and significant sites.
  • The journeys of ancestral beings.
  • The enduring connection between people and Country.

Her artistic style reflects the influence of her family's painting tradition while demonstrating an individual creative voice that has attracted attention from collectors and galleries throughout Australia.

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A Promising Artistic Career

One of the standout facts about Clarise Tunkin is the speed with which she gained recognition in the Australian art world. She began painting professionally in 2012 and quickly established herself as an emerging talent.

Her achievements include:

Finalist in the 2015 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA).

Finalist in the 2016 NATSIAA as part of a collaborative work with her mother, Teresa Baker.

A solo exhibition, A Magnificent APY Lands Artist, was held in 2018.

Representation in galleries and private collections across Australia.

Inclusion in the Monash University Collection in Melbourne.

These accomplishments highlight her growing influence within contemporary Aboriginal art.

Family, Country, and Cultural Legacy

For Clarise, painting is much more than artistic expression. It is a way to preserve family history and maintain the cultural traditions of the Pitjantjatjara people.

Her work reflects the teachings passed down through multiple generations of artists and Elders. The stories she paints connect past and present, ensuring that important aspects of Aboriginal culture continue to be shared with future generations.

Clarise has spoken of visiting Marlilu's cave with her mother as a teenager, an experience that strengthened her connection to the stories she now paints. These personal experiences add depth and authenticity to her artistic practice.

Clarise Tunkin Paintings

The Lasting Impact of Clarise Tunkin

Today, Clarise Tunkin is recognised as one of the exciting younger artists emerging from the APY Lands. Her paintings celebrate the spiritual and cultural traditions of the Pitjantjatjara people while contributing to the rich and evolving story of contemporary Australian Aboriginal art.

Through Clarise Tunkin Minyma Marlilu Tjukurrpa's works and other Dreaming narratives, she continues a proud family legacy that spans several generations. Her bold artistic style, deep cultural knowledge, and commitment to preserving ancestral stories have made her an important figure in modern Indigenous Australian art.

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Explore Clarise Tunkin’s Art with Mandel

Clarise Tunkin's art stands as a powerful expression of Country, culture, and the enduring strength of Aboriginal storytelling traditions.

Contact Mandel Aboriginal Art Gallery, or visit us for a deep look into Clarise Tunkin’s masterpieces.