Puna Yanima

Puna Yanima was born in the bush, close to De Rose Hill Station in the far north of 
South Australia. Her father was Norman Yanima and his country was Piltati, near 
Nyapari, on the APY Lands. Her mother was Lucy Yanima and she was born in 
Indulkana. Puna spent her first years living off the land and traveling between 
communities with her parents and her four siblings. She grew up speaking 
Yankunytjatjara, and eventually moved to Indulkana as a young girl. Once Puna 
started a family on her own, she moved to Mimili with her partner and four children.  
Puna continues to be one of the senior cultural leaders of Mimili Community. She is 
passionate about sharing her knowledge of inma (ceremonial song and dance) and 
culture with the next generation. Puna was introduced to the storylines of Antara as 
a young woman, and has since continued to integrate this knowledge into her life, 
passionately caring for kapi tjukula (rock holes), apu (rocks) and murpu (mountains). 
She often goes on bushtrips and camps out for several days with her family. 

Puna Yanima started connecting her deep knowledge of country with the practice of 
painting as soon as Mimili Maku Arts was founded. As one of the community 
leaders, she was instrumental in developing the art centre in its early stages. Today, 
Puna is best known for the inky, fluid and free artworks, that radiate a sense of play 
and joyfulness. 

Selected Group Exhibitions 
2025 Pakani – coming up, Aboriginal Signature Gallery Brussels, Belgium 
2024 Women’s Story, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2023 Puna & Pauline, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2023 Desertmob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2023 itjanu – flourishing, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery Brussels, Belgium  
2022 tjukurla, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2022 Profundity, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery, Brussels 
2021 ilykuwara, APY Gallery, Adelaide 
2021 Inside – APY Lands, Aboriginal Signature Estrangin Gallery, Brussels 
2020 kinara mimi, RAFT Artspace, Alice Springs 
2020  tjintungka, Short St Gallery, Broome 
2019 Milpatjunanyi, APY Gallery, Adelaide 
2019 Kunpu Nyaranyi, APY Gallery, Sydney 
2019 Tjitji malatja tjutaku, Aboriginal Signature Gallery, Brussels, Belgium 
2018 Malatja-malatja, Aboriginal Signature Gallery, Brussels, Belgium 
2018 Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2018 Wangka Kutjara, Tjukurpa Kutju, Linden New Arts, Melbourne 
2018  Antara, Harvey Art Projects, Idaho, USA 
2018 Uwankarangka Tjungungku Palyantja, Short Street Gallery, Broome 

Selected Group Exhibitions (Continued)  
2017 Nganampa Manta Lipiwanu, Aboriginal & Pacific Art, Sydney 
2017 Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2017 Salon des Refusés, Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, Darwin 
2017 Minyma Tjutaku Tjukurpa (Women’s Stories), Short St Gallery, Broom 
2017 Finalist, Hazelhurst Art on Paper, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea 
2017 Malatja-malatja Tjutaku Kulu, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2016 Nganampa Kililpi: Our Stars, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea 
2016 Desert Mob, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs 
2016 Salon des Refusés, Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, Darwin 
2016 Kantilya ngaranytjaku. Kuranyukutu nyakunytjaku, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2016 Tjilpi munu Pampaku Tjukurpa Kunpu Kanyintjaku, RAFT, Alice Springs 
2015 Tjukurpa Kunpu - Strong Culture, Harvey Art Projects, Idaho, USA 
2015 Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2015 Putinguru Urukuta - Desert to the Sea, Short Street Gallery, Broome 
2015 Ngunytju Kurunpa - Mother Spirit, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2014 Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2014  Nganampa Wangka (Our Voice), Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne 
2014 Uwankara Nganana Mimili Maku Arts, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2013 Pira-Mimi, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2012 Ngura Puti (Bush Home), Redot Gallery, Singapore  
2012 Desert Mob, Araluen Gallery, Alice Springs 
2012 Wapar - Yankunytjatjara Dreaming, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne 
2012 Mimili Maku Alinytjara, Outstation Gallery, Darwin 
2012 Tjukurpa Kunpu, A.P. Bond Gallery, Adelaide 
2011 Waltjapiti Mimili Maku, RAFT Artspace, Alice Springs 
2011 Mimili Maku Mirinpa, Chapman Gallery, Canberra 
2011 Tjukuritja kunpu kanyitjaku, Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney 
2011  Mimili Maku Arts, A.P. Bond Gallery, Adelaide 
2010  Mimili Maku, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne 
2010  Piiny-Piinypa Tjukurpa Exhibition, RAFT Artspace, Alice Springs 
2010  Desert Mob, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs 
2010  APY Lands, RAFT Gallery, Alice Springs 
2010  Mimili Maku, Bond Gallery, Adelaide

 
Awards 
2019 Finalist, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Adelaide Perry Gallery 
2018 Finalist, King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait 
Islander Art Award 
2018  Finalist, National Works on Paper, The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery 

Collections 
ArtBank 
Charles Darwin University Gallery, Darwin 
Private Collections