Kalisha Lee Austral / Murantingala and Tapalinga (25-13)

Artwork is accompanied by Munupi Artists Certificate of Authenticity/Provenance

DOB: 2/11/1996
Father’s Country: Papaya, Central Australia, NT
Mother’s Country: Malawu, Bathurst Island, NT
Skin: Arinkuwula (Stone)
Language: Tiwi
Dreaming: Buffalo

I started painting at the Munupi Art Centre in 2017 and I still continue doing my painting because it relaxes me…

Kalisha Lee Austral is a young and emerging artist who began painting at the art centre at the age of 21. Since then, her artistic practice has grown significantly, reflecting both a deepening commitment and a refined sense of style. When she’s not working as a ranger, Kalisha can often be found quietly immersed in her painting, dedicating long hours to her creative process.

Her work features traditional Tiwi designs, but with a playful and contemporary twist that makes her pieces uniquely her own. Kalisha has also been exploring and expanding her colour palette—skillfully blending natural ochres red, yellow, and white to create a rich variety of soft pinks, yellows, and creamy tones.

Munupi Arts & Crafts Association is located along Melville Island’s north-western coastline at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on the Tiwi Islands. In 1990 the Yikikini Women’s Centre and Pirlangimpi Pottery were incorporated under the name Munupi Arts and Crafts Association giving local artists an opportunity to proudly celebrate Tiwi culture through both traditional and contemporary mediums.

For 35 years Munupi Arts has been a vital meeting place for the Tiwi people of the Pirlangimpi community for employment, cultural pride and well being.

Munupi Arts is wholly indigenous owned and governed. Generated income supports the artist’s families and therefore the whole Tiwi community.

Murantingala is the name for the ‘morning star’, or the planet Venus. Throughout Tiwi history they have used this star as a compass point for navigation and guidance whilst travelling. Tapalinga is the general Tiwi term for a star, or group of stars in the night sky.