Jan Griffiths Gunjaka Australian, Miriwo ong, Ngarinyma, b. 1971
Jan Baljagil Gunjaka Griffiths is a dedicated and prolific artist primarily working across painting, ceramics and poetry. Her work explores personal family narratives which have also included multi-media installations, fashion and photography. “I was born in Kununurraand I went to school in Broome. I first began work as a trainee broadcaster and journalist in 1990. I also did a few months at the Waringarri Aboriginal ArtsCentre and enjoyed the little time I spent there. I've worked at the Wyndham Super Market and Tuckerbox store in Kununurra for several years .I've been painting on and off for a few years now. I'm carrying on the stories of my parents, Peggy and Alan Griffiths’ cultural stories that were handed down to my parents and then tome. Both my parents are famous artists in the Kimberley but most importantly, they are my traditional teachers.I too can keep our tradition alive and hand the stories of our ancestors and how our country came to be, down to the next generation and generations to come. I do this with great prideand honour. My arts practice includes painting, animation, poetry & ceramics” Jan has exhibited extensively and presented ceramic demonstrations at galleries and festivals within Australia such as the Ceramics Triennial. She was a finalist in the 2018 Telstra National Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), the 2020 Indigenous Fashion Awards, and exhibited at the 2021 Indian Ocean Craft Triennial.