MITJILI NAPARRULA - Watiya Tjuta

Mitjili Naparrula was a highly respected Pintupi artist from Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), renowned for her powerful and instantly recognisable depictions of Watiya Tjuta (desert oak trees). She was born into a distinguished family of artists—her parents, Tupa Tjakamarra and Tjunkiya Napaljarri, were both accomplished painters who passed down their knowledge and cultural stories. Her brother, Turkey Tjupurrula Tolson, and her husband, Long Tom Tjapanangka, were also celebrated artists, placing Mitjili firmly within a rich artistic lineage.

Mitjili began painting in the early 1990s, initially influenced by the style of the Papunya Tula movement. She later developed her own bold and distinctive visual language, characterised by striking, linear representations of the Watiya Tjuta trees and the undulating sandhills of her father’s Country, Uwalki (near Kintore).

The Watiya (commonly identified as the desert oak, Allocasuarina decaisneana) holds deep cultural significance. These trees are not only a defining feature of the landscape but are also essential to traditional life, providing wood for spear shafts and ceremonial objects. Through her work, Mitjili captured both the physical presence and the spiritual essence of these ancestral trees.

Mitjili’s paintings are highly sought after by collectors across Australia and internationally. Following her passing in 2019, her daughter-in-law, Deborah McDonald Nangala, continues as the custodian of the Uwalki – Watiya Tjuta Dreaming, ensuring the continuation of this important cultural story.

This artwork can be hung vertically or horizontally. 

This artwork was acquired directly from Mitjili Naparrula, and a gallery certificate of authenticity will be provided with the sale.