Michelle Matasia Australian, Yankunytjatjara, b. 1976

Michelle Matasia is an artist belonging to the Yankunytjatjara language and cultural group. Michelle was born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and now lives in the remote community of Apatula (Finke) in the Northern Territory.

Michelle is a prolific basket maker, making baskets out of raffia long before it came to her region in 2022. She learnt to weave from her mother, Agnes Matasia, and has gone on to develop her own precise and intricate style of weaving, with a unique and joyful use of bright, contrasting colours.

More recently, she has expanded her fibre practice and learnt to make Tjanpi sculptures at skills and development workshops held in her community.