Michelle Cooper

Michelle Cooper is a Pitjantjatjara woman, born in 1971 in the Kalka community on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia. Following the passing of her mother during her early years, Michelle moved with her family to Alice Springs.

She began painting under the guidance of her paternal grandmother, Kuntjil Cooper (1920–2010), from whom she learned important cultural knowledge and stories. Through this mentorship, Michelle came to understand significant Women’s Dreaming stories from Pitjantjatjara culture, including the Two Sisters (Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa) and Seven Sisters Dreaming.

Although her mother was Warlpiri and from Yuendumu, Michelle's strongest cultural and familial ties remain with the Pitjantjatjara lands, which are often the focus of her work. Her paintings explore Women’s Dreamings and ceremonial narratives passed down from her grandmother’s country. Michelle reflects that she "listened to her father’s story" and absorbed Tjukurpa—the foundational law and spiritual knowledge of her people—into her life.

Today, Michelle’s daughter lives in Pipalyatjara, not far from Kalka, maintaining strong family and cultural connections to Country.

Michelle Cooper is a dedicated and thoughtful artist, deeply committed to preserving and sharing the Tjukurpa of her homelands through her intricately rendered artworks.