Tjunkara Ken

Tjungkara Ken (born 1 October 1969) is a Pitjantjatjara artist from Amata, a community in South Australia’s APY Lands. She began painting in 1997 when the women of Amata established Minymaku Arts, which later became known as Tjala Arts. Tjungkara started working as a professional artist in 2008.

Her artwork is based on her personal Tjukurpa (Dreaming), which connects deeply to her ancestral land and its stories. Tjungkara mainly paints the Country around Amata and Walitjara, where her father is from. She also includes stories from her mother’s Country, located further west near Irrunytju in Western Australia.

Tjungkara Ken works both on her own and with her family. She is one of five sisters who paint together as the Ken Sisters Collaborative, along with Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin, and Sandra Ken. In 2016, they won the Wynne Prize for their artwork Seven Sisters.

The sisters have also worked with non-Indigenous artists, including Ben Quilty in 2017 at Sydney Contemporary, where they explored ideas around colour, movement, scale, and energy. These collaborations have helped showcase their strong skills and creative vision.

DOB: 1969

Born: Amata, SA

Language group: Pitjantjatjara

Community: Rocket Bore, NT (APY Lands)