ALISON MUNTI RILEY

Alison Munti Riley is an Aboriginal artist and the daughter of acclaimed artist Betty Munti. She began her painting career in 2006, building on a strong creative foundation established during her teenage years working in textile batik at Ernabella Arts. This early experience with colour, pattern, and process continues to inform her approach to painting.

In her twenties, Alison moved with her family to Amata community on the APY Lands, maintaining close ties between both Amata and Ernabella. These communities remain central to her life and practice, grounding her work in the cultural and artistic traditions of the region.

Alison’s career gained significant recognition in 2011 when, after just five years of painting, she was awarded the People’s Choice Prize at the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in Darwin. This achievement marked an important milestone and affirmed her place among leading contemporary Aboriginal artists.

Her practice often centres on the Seven Sisters Jukurrpa, a major ancestral story that travels across and connects many Aboriginal language groups throughout Australia. Through her paintings, Alison interprets this narrative with a strong sense of movement and place, mapping the journeys of the sisters across Country and highlighting sites of cultural and environmental significance.

Alongside her individual practice, Alison has played an important role within her community. She has been actively involved in mentoring and supporting emerging artists, including leading collaborative painting projects that bring younger generations into the art world and strengthen the continuity of cultural knowledge.

Alison Munti Riley has exhibited widely over the past decade, with her work shown across Australia as well as internationally in the United States and Europe. Her paintings are held in numerous collections, reflecting both the strength of her artistic vision and her ongoing contribution to contemporary Aboriginal art.