Umatji Tjapalyi

Umatji is a Yankunytjatjara woman born in Indulkana Community on the Anangu 
Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the far north-west of South Australia.  
Umatji’s mother, Kunmanara (Kathleen Injiki) Tjapalyi was one of the founders and senior 
artists at Mimili Maku Arts. Growing up, Umatji learned from her mother and father about 
their country and their storylines. Today, Umatji paints her mother’s country around Iltur, 
which forms part of the Antara storyline, and is celebrated in Women’s Ceremony. 
Whilst Umatji only commenced painting in 2021, she has already been recognised as one 
of the most talented emerging painters at Mimili Maku Arts and was a finalist in the Hadley’s 
Art Prize for landscape painting in 2022. In 2023 she was a finalist in the National 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, following in her late mother’s footsteps, 
whom also was a finalist in the prize in the last year of her life. 

Prizes & Awards 
2024 Finalist, Bayside Painting Prize, Bayside Gallery 
2023 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery 
2023 Finalist, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, MAGNT, Darwin 
2022 Finalist, Hadley’s Art Prize, Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania 

Selected Group Exhibitions 
2026 Under The Same Constellation, N.Smith Gallery, Sydney 
2025 Pakani – coming up, Aboriginal Signature Gallery Brussels, Belgium 
2024 Inma, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery Brussels, Belgium 
2024 Women’s Song, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2023 Desertmob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2023 Unfolding, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2023 Tjungu, APY Gallery, Sydney 
2023 itjanu – flourishing, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery Brussels, Belgium  
2023 Rising Stars, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2022 minyma maku, Everywhen, Mornington Peninsula 
2022 pakalarani – taking flight, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2022 APY Art Centre Collective at Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne Exhibition Centre 
2021 inuntji – fresh bloom, APY Gallery, Sydney 
Collections 
Deakin University Collection, Fondation Opale, Switzerland, Kaplan Levi Collection, Seattle