Tjungkara Ken (born 1 October 1969) is aPitjantjatjara artist fromAmata, South Australia,[1] in theAPY lands. She began painting in 1997,[1] when Minymaku Arts was opened by the women of Amaṯa.[2] She started painting professionally in 2008.[1] By that time, the artists' co-operative had been renamedTjala Arts.[2]
Ken's paintings depict stories and figures from her personalTjukurpa (Dreaming), the spirituality that is associated with her ancestor's homeland. Her father is from the country around Amaṯa and Walitjara, and Ken most often depicts this country and itsTjukurpa in her paintings. She also illustrates her mother's country, which is further west, nearIrrunytju inWestern Australia.[1]
Ken's paintings have been featured in group exhibitions in many of Australia's major cities. Some of her work was also part of an exhibition inGraz, Austria in 2002.[1][3] One of her paintings, titledNgayuku ngura – My Country, was chosen as a finalist for theNational Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2010.[3][4] It was bought by a private collector.[5]
A painting depicting theKungkarungkara (Seven Sisters Dreaming), was chosen by theArt Gallery of South Australia as the prize for a competition run during the Gallery'sDesert Country exhibition in 2011.[6] Ken's painting from the Art Gallery of South Australia's permanent collection was also included in the exhibition and featured on the cover of theDesert Country catalogue. The exhibition featured works by several artists from across theAṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, includingMaringka Baker,Nura Rupert andJimmy Baker.[7][8]
She was anArchibald Prize finalist in2017, with herKungkarangkalpa tjukurpa (Seven Sisters dreaming), a self-portrait.[13] She was awarded the Roberts Family Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Prize forSeven Sisters, her entry in the 2021Wynne Prize.[14]
There are many other artists in Ken's extended family, working out of Tjala Arts. When working with her four sisters—Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Sandra Ken andMaringka Tunkin—the group is known as theKen Sisters.[15][16]
^"Our Art Centre".Tjala Arts.Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved16 March 2020.Established in 1999, Tjala Arts has launched the careers of artists including....and the five Ken Sisters - Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Sandra Ken, Maringka Tunkin and Tjungkara Ken - who won the prestigious Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW in 2016.
