Born at Ernabella on 13 November 1943. A Pitjantjatjara speaker, her mother’s family are from Wingellina and her father’s family from Kanypi. She grew up at Ernabella and attended Ernabella school, starting designing and weaving in the craftroom in 1963, as well as painting, and already showing exceptional design ability.
Nyukana’s chosen subjects for paintings are principally Dreaming stories associated with country around Kanypi – west of Ernabella. 1971: Studied under Leo Brereton at Ernabella; Dec. Designs were included in an exhibition of painted designs at Argyle Arts Centre, Sydney. 1972: Attended an exhibition of painted designs (by invitation), Age Gallery, Melbourne. 1973: Designs in an exhibition at Civic Gallery, Canberra. 1974: Jan. Darwin workshop to learn new skills; Attended first exhibition of Ernabella batik at St John’s, Wahroonga, featuring craftwork from all Presbyterian missions. 1975: Jan./Feb. Attended Batik Institute, Jogjakata, Indonesia to study batik technique.
Later in the year extended skills when Vivianne McClintock conducted a workshop at Ernabella.1976: Sept. Attended and exhibited at Grace Bros, Chatswood, Sydney. 1977: Sept. Attended and exhibited at Grace Bros, Chatswood, Sydney. 1981: Exhibited in Craft Expo ’81. 1982: Exhibited and participated in workshop, Darwin; Exhibited at Grace Bros, Chatswood, Sydney. 1983: Sept. Two exhibitions and demonstrations at the Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan; Oct. Travelling exhibition and demonstration at Albury/Wodonga, Wagga Wagga and Orange. 1984: June. By invitation, exhibition and Arts conference in Canberra. 1986-7: Participant, Textiles of the Commonwealth , travelling exhibition, UK. 1987: Nov. Demonstrated at the Gap Neighbourhood Centre, Alice Springs. 1988: April. Exhibitor, Texas International Festival; May/June. Exhibitor, Classics at the Craft Centre, Crafts Council of NSW; Aug. Exhibitor, Fifth National Aboriginal Art Award; Nov./Dec. Exhibitor, ANCAA and Boomalli Exhibition, Sydney. 1989: May. Exhibition and demonstration, Plaza Dreamtime Gallery, Alice Springs; July. Exhibitor, Desert Impressions , conducted by Australian Conservation Foundation, Melbourne; Sept. Demonstration at Shades of Ochre Gallery, Darwin. Cultural exchange at Tiwi Designs, Bathurst Island; Oct. Exhibitor, Bloomfield’s Gallery, Sydney; Exhibitor, A Myriad of Dreamings , Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, Melbourne and Sydney; Nov. Featured artist, Wirutjuta , Ernabella works 1989: Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs. 1990: May. Exhibitor, From the Australian Desert , curated by Silver Harris, Santa Fe; June. Art Award, Barunga Festival, acrylic on canvas; Sept. Exhibitor, Edinburgh Festival, curated by Tandanya, SA; Exhibitor and demonstrator, Plaza Dreamtime Gallery, Alice Springs; Nov. Featured artist, Two Homes exhibition at Tandanya, Adelaide, acrylic on canvas and batik. 1991: April. Acrylic painting Kanypi Tjukurpa leased by SA Dept of Arts. Collections: Art Gallery of SA (acrylic on canvas, 1989), Crafts Council of NSW (batik), Holmes à Court (batik), Kelton Collection (acrylic and batik).
- Writers:
- Johnson, Vivien
- Date written:
- 1994
- Last updated:
- 2015
