Takariya Napaltjarri

Takariya Napaltjarri is a respected Pintupi artist and one of the women from the Pintupi Nine — a family group who lived traditionally in the Gibson Desert until they made first contact with settled communities in 1984. Born in the desert near Marruwa, Takariya spent her early life moving through Country with her family, living according to the Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) and the laws passed down through generations.

Takariya's arrival at Kiwirrkurra marked a significant cultural moment in Australian history — the last known transition from a fully traditional desert lifestyle to community life. Despite this shift, Takariya remained closely connected to her heritage and continued to carry the deep knowledge of Country, kinship, and ceremony into her new life.

Takariya began painting in the mid-1990s, following in the footsteps of her brothers, Warlimpirrnga, Walala, and Thomas Tjapaltjarri. Her works reflect the sacred narratives of her ancestral homelands, particularly sites around Marruwa and Mina Mina, and often focus on women’s ceremonial stories and the journeys of ancestral women across the land. Her painting style features intricate dotting, rhythmic repetition, and a restrained palette that honours the desert tones of her Country.

Through her art, Takariya maps out the spiritual and physical geographies of her homeland, offering insight into the powerful role of women in the preservation and transmission of cultural knowledge. Her works hold a quiet strength and are grounded in a lived experience of law, story, and survival.

Takariya’s paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she is recognised not only for her artistic talent but also for her cultural authority as a senior Pintupi woman. Her art continues to carry the legacy of the desert and the strength of her ancestors, keeping the stories of her people alive for future generations.