Michelle Woody Minnapinni Australian, Tiwi, b. 1972

Michelle moved from Pirlangimpi to Milikapiti in the 80’s. She attended high school at St John’s in Darwin and Slade in Brisbane. She has worked in counselling support for Indigenous Health, Relationship Australia and the Red Cross.

She started painting at Jilamara with her partner Nick Mario in 2012, whilst raising three young girls. 

Michelle is a gallery assistant at Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association and a director on the board with the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists.

Michelle paints on canvas and paper and has recently made her first limited edition prints.

Her works are based on the stories of Japarra the moon man and Tapalinga the stars, bush food and hunting. She is slowly developing her own Jilamara designs into these stories.