Mitjili Napurrula’s Motifs

Mitjili Napurrula is an Australian based Aboriginal artist, focused on the Papunya Tula style of painting. She was born in Haasts Bluff, the Northern Territory of Australia in 1945, from an important aboriginal art family. Her mother, Tjunkayi Napaltjarri, was a well know female artist within the community and one of the principal painters in Kintore. Mitjili’s sister is Turkey Tolson, whose work is also world renowned, and she later married Tom Tjapanangka, who influenced her Irantji range motifs in her paintings.

Mitjili’s career as a painter began later on in 1990. Her work intended to depict motifs from her father’s native country of Uwalki, creating forms based on spear straightening ceremonies, shrubs, Acacia trees, and the topography of the land. The reoccurring tree motifs are inspired by her mother’s drawings in the sand. Most of her work serves to communicate the essence of flowers; utilizing space, pattern and vibrant colors to achieve her lively and vibrant pieces.