Tjunkiya Napaltjarri Australian, Pintupi, c. 1930-2008

Tjunkiya was born at Rapalangya, north-west of the Kintore Community, c. 1930, and she is the third wife of Turkey Tolson’s father. She later moved to Haasts Bluff with her husband and then to the Papunya Community when it was established. She participated in the Kintore/Haasts Bluff joint project, which was the beginning of her career, but now paints solely for Papunya Tula. In 1999 Tjunkiya contributed to the Kintore women’s painting as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.

Tjunkiya passed away in Alice Springs after a brief illness in April 2009.