Mitjili Napurrula

Mitjili comes from a large family of painters.  She was born at Haasts Bluff, 200kms west of Alice Springs, NT in 1946, and is the daughter of Tupa Tjakamarra (deceased) and Tjunkiya Napaltjarri. Her husband is Long Tom Tjapanangka, a well-known international artist and her brother is acclaimed artist Turkey Tolsen Tjupurrula.

Both Mitjili and Turkey are custodians of the Kulata (spear) Tjukurrpa.   Mitjili was taught her father's Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) by her mother, who drew images of Uwalki in the sand (the trees that traditionally provide wood for spears).  She commenced painting in 1992 at the Ikuntji Women’s Centre.

She and her husband currently live and paint in Mt Liebig.