CLARISE TUNKIN

Clarise Tunkin is an Aboriginal artist born in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and raised in the remote community of Kanpi on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, located at the base of the Mann Ranges near the Northern Territory border. She comes from a region rich in artistic tradition and is part of a strong, multi-generational family of artists.

 

Clarise is the daughter of Teresa Baker, and her extended family includes respected artists such as Patricia Tunkin and Kay Baker, daughter of the renowned Jimmy Baker. Growing up surrounded by artists, Clarise developed a deep connection to culture, Country, and storytelling from an early age.

 

Like many women in her family, Clarise paints the story of Minyma Malilu, a significant ancestral narrative associated with women’s cultural knowledge. She learned this story from her mother and grandmother, including memories of visiting Malilu’s cave as a teenager. This site is believed to hold spiritual healing power, and women continue to visit, perform ceremony, and sing songs connected to Malilu.

 

In her work, Clarise depicts the topography of her ancestral Country and the internal systems of Malilu’s cave from an aerial perspective. Her paintings map the pathways taken by women travelling in secret to visit the site, as well as the winding waterways that flow into the cave following desert rains. These elements create layered compositions that combine landscape, story, and movement.

 

Clarise began painting in 2012 and quickly gained recognition for her distinctive style. In 2015, she was selected as a finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, marking her as an emerging talent within contemporary Aboriginal art.

 

Her work is characterised by a confident use of negative space, bold contrasts, and energetic compositions. Through this approach, Clarise brings a fresh and dynamic perspective to traditional subject matter. Still early in her career, she is considered part of an exciting new generation of artists and is increasingly sought after by collectors. Alongside her artistic practice, she is also a mother of two.