Nyuyuntja – stoking of the fire, keeping the fire alive, celebrates the life and work of Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM (1947 – 2025). As a senior Anangu elder, and ‘deep culture woman’, Mrs Tapaya was one of the most accomplished artists associated with Australia’s longest running and highly acclaimed Aboriginal Art Centre, Ernabella Arts.
This exhibition showcases a selection of artworks made in the final years of Mrs Tapaya’s life, which highlight her confidence as a creator and storyteller, alongside the purpose and passion inherent to her practice. Nyuyuntja features works across ceramics, batik, painting and tjanpi weaving. Central to the exhibition is a significant new artwork honouring the Kunkarungkalpa Tjukurpa (Seven Sisters creation story). Combining Tjanpi weaving with ceramics, it has been finalised after Mrs Tapaya’s passing by her collaborators at Ernabella Arts and Tjanpi Desert Weavers.
Tjunkaya Tapaya: Nyuyuntja – stoking of the fire, keeping the fire alive is JamFactory’s ICON exhibition for 2026. Through Nyuyuntja, we honour Mrs Tapaya’s great contribution to Aṉangu culture and her incredible legacy — one that keeps the fire burning for Aṉangu — and generously shares it with audiences.
We advise that this listing contains the name and images of Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM (1947 - 2025), shared with her family’s permission and in keeping with her wishes, so that her work for art, Aṉangu and culture continues to be remembered.
