Iwiri Art Studio

Since its inception in 2021 Iwiṟi Art Studio has rapidly established itself as a highly regarded Studio. Our intention is to create a space for artistic expression that promotes cultural retention, transmission and wellbeing across the generations while also providing Anangu artists with commercial opportunities to produce economic benefit for their family and community.

'“Panya walka palyarala kulilpai nganampa Tjukurpa tjuta munu nganampa ngura munu walytjapiti kutjupa ngurawanungku. Walka wiru tjuta palyarala pukularipai munu kurunpa unngu kanany-kananyaripai. Walka nyanga paluru tjana nganampa ara tjuta Tjukurpa tjuta witini, ka malatja malatja tjutangku kulira tjana ngapartji arkara palyani Tjukurpa ara tjuta kulira nintiringkula. Walka kutju wiya, palu Tjukurpa pulka paint-amilara pulkara alatji pukularipai mununa alatji kulilpai, kurunpa unngu. Nganana wirura tjungu warkarira nganana walytjapititjara wangkara kulira nintiringkupai kutjupa tjutangka munu ara tjutaku. Alatji nganana nintiringkupai.”

“When we are painting, we are thinking about the creation stories (Tjukurpa), our home and all of the family who are connected through this Country..We feel happy and proud in our spirit as we create the beautiful designs. These motifs hold our Tjukurpa, our histories, lore and culture.  Future generations will come to understand and then it will be their turn to take on the work as they hear and learn the Tjukurpa. These paintings are not just designs,  as I paint these significant creation events, I am overwhelmed with joy and this is the way I feel in my spirit. It’s great to paint together, we talk with each other about family and learn from others, as well as histories and events.  This is how we learn”.

Katrina Tjitayi March 2023

Our 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. We currently have links to the following galleries across Australia: JamFactory (AdelaideSA), Art Images Gallery (Adelaide SA), Short St Gallery (Broome, WA), Gallery of Central Australia (Yulara NT), Aboriginal Contemporary (Sydney NSW) and Art Ark (online).

Our membership of the Indigenous Art Code and Ku Arts reflects a commitment to working in ethical ways and collaborative ways that centre and promote Anangu voice and artistic expression.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program and ArtsSA