Biography

Inawintji Williamson was born in 1953 in Pukatja (formerly Ernabella) on APY land in South Australia and grew up in the community of Fregon with her family. Before becoming a painter, Ina was involved in arts and crafts with other women from both communities from an early age: painting maps, making wall hangings and floor mats, kangaroo skin moccasins, batik and tie-dye.

The Kaltjiti art centre was set up in a small hut and Inawintji was involved from the outset. She helped to secure a larger space, which the group later obtained and which is still the Kaltjiti Arts studio today. Inawintji has been a leader and president of both Kaltjiti Arts and Ananguku Arts. In 2007 Inawintji moved to Adelaide for dialysis treatment. While in Adelaide, Inawintji worked for ten years at the University of Adelaide, where he taught language, inma (traditional song and dance) and tjukurpa (Aboriginal law) at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies.

In 2020, Inawintji re-engaged with her art practice, attending APY Studio in Adelaide daily to paint. She is also a leader and teacher in the studio, mentoring young female artists in their emerging practices. Inawintji explains that the Adelaide studio is a powerful and vital place for Anangu people who are 'out of the country' to gather, share and celebrate their culture through a special kind of 'memory' that manifests itself every time they paint.