Irrunytju Arts Centre

Irrunytju Arts is an Indigenous Australian art centre based in the community of Irrunytju (Wingellina), Western Australia. Irrunytju is is situated near the tri-state border of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia. While some aspects of the Irrunytju community may reflect residential Australia, the landscape itself is arid, dry and very remote. Irrunytju is approximately 720km south-west of Alice Springs. The Irrunytju arrtists and their families will often travel through the country of their ancestors to hunt for food, collect plants for bush medicine, and grass and seeds for basket weaving and jewellery making.

The Irrunytju art centre was established in 2001. Before this, some of the community members were already producing paintings. But when the art centre was opened, many community members attended daily with great enthusiasm, to paint their Tjukurpa (dreamtime) stories.

Irrunytju Arts is now well established and the artists are known for producing vibrant, colourful and often very contemporary canvases which depict a variety of tjukurpa, heavily related to the landscape of the surrounding country and its rich history. Some of the artists from Irrunytju are represented in prominent private and public collections, both in Australia and internationally.

The art centre provides over 30 artists with high quality materials and marketing support. This support has helped many of the artist grow and develop in their style and practice. This development over time has been widely recognised in the Indigenous Australian art market. Artists including Wingu Tingima, Alkawari Dawson, Patju Presley and Yannima Tommy Watson (who now works independently) have come a long way and are held in high esteem.Other artists painting through Irrunytju arts include Jorna Newberry, Kuntjil Cooper, Karrika Belle Davidson, Ivy Laidlaw, Tjayanka Woods, Myra Cook, Anmanari Brown, Angampa Martin and Roma Butler.