Tjarlirli

Tjarlirli Indigenous Art Corporation, is located in Western Australia's remote Tjukurla Community and is part of the Ngaanyatjarra region of central Australia.

Established in 2006, the art centre began as a small enterprise coordinated from the community office and Women's Centre, before it was incorporated as Tjarlirli Indigenous Art Centre in 2009.

The Community itself was first established by families from the Warburton and Papunya settlements, who traveled to Tjukurla in the early 1980’s, led by Papunya Tula artists Anatjari Tjakamarra and John Tjakamarra. 

The reason for this move was to be closer to the important site of Kulkurda, the creation site of the Tingari Dreaming Cycle.  In the Tingari Story, all the ancestral anthropomorphic beings converged on Tjukurla, coming from all directions, and after meeting here continued on the journey to Lake McDonald, where the epic concludes.

Tjarlirli is a women’s site just outside the community, and Tjukurla is the adjacent men’s site.

Tjarlirli Art has been recognized as a source of culturally significant work produced by elders such as Nyarrapyi Giles, Katjarra Butler, Annie Farmer, Elsa and Adrian Young.  Nyarrapyi Giles won first prize in the Sir Charles Gairdner Award in 2008 and was a finalist in the Telstra Awards and Joondalup prize in the same year.

Tjarlirli Art also has many young artists who are keen to carry on in the same tradition as their parents.  Artists such as Adam Butler, James Gibson, Bob Gibson, Sheila Giles and Deborah Young are prolific and accomplished painters.

As the only business venture in Tjukurla, Tjarlirli Art is providing much needed income and employment in this remote town of approximately 70 people.  As a member of Desart and Western Desert Mob (www.westerndesertmob.com.au) the art centre has a strong mandate to provide training and skills development for its members and opportunities for indigenous artists to travel and participate in Industry events of all kinds.

Tjarlirli Art's core business is the preservation, maintenance and promotion of the art work of the Ngaanyatjarra people by nurturing the development of traditional and contemporary artistic practice, exploring new mediums and innovative opportunities for creative expression.

Although a small Art Centre, Tjarlirli already has a strong reputation for dynamic art making.  Work from Tjarlirli Art is commanding the attention of discerning buyers and has been acquired by a number of major collections in Australia and abroad.

Kate Owen Gallery is proud to represent Tjarlirli Art Centre in Sydney.