Julie Yatjitja Iwantja, South Australia, b. 1969

 Julie Yatjitja was born at the Indulkana creek and as a child she lived with her family in a wiltja (handmade shelter) while Indulkana community was being established. Her father, Teddy Yatjitja, was a stockman who worked at the nearby stations, Granite Downs and Everard Park (Mimili). It was at Granite Downs that Teddy met Yatjitja’s mother. 

 

Yatjitja commenced her schooling in Indulkana and later travelled to Coober Pedy for high school and then to boarding school in Adelaide for her final years of schooling. After completing school, she returned to Indulkana and worked at the community store, before starting her own family – she is now the mother of three daughters and recently the grandmother to several grandchildren. 

 

Yatjitja has worked at the Iwantja Art Centre for over 10 years as a dedicated artist across various mediums. Predominately a painter, her practice is informed by a connection to family, culture and Country. She paints the Iwantja Tjukitji (soakage) near the site of her family’s camp in the early days of Indulkana community.