Tanya Van Horen / Painted Desert – Opal Country (KFA25222)

Tanya Van Horen, born in 1975, is a rising talent from the Umoona Community in northern South Australia, part of the APY Lands. She calls Kupa Piti (Coober Pedy) home and is a proud Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara woman.

Her family has deep roots in Kupa Piti, spanning eight generations. Tanya is a devoted mother of four and a grandmother to four cherished granddaughters. She only began painting recently, using it as a way to express her deep connection to Country.

Tanya’s paintings tell the story of her Country and her love for her homelands. Through her art, Tanya reflects on her childhood spent growing up there, going out bush camping, hunting kangaroo and digging for witchery grubs and honey ants with her family. She recalls the older women gathering around fires, watching the younger generation dance and sing under the night sky.

Her works often draw inspiration from the local landscape, referencing the stunning Opals of the Kupa Piti region, the vibrant hues of The Breakaways, and connections to Elders, community, and the land.

“The colours – they speak, they talk to you. On Country, colour shows you where water is, food is, where life is.”

Tanya’s art is marked by bold colours and dynamic strokes, radiating energy and joy. Her paintings breathe life into any space, embodying the essence of Indigenous Australian culture and art.

In addition to her artistic endeavours, Tanya serves as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer at the Coober Pedy Hospital. She also works as a tour guide at the underground museum and for the Ghan twice a week.

Tanya plays an active role in her community, serving on the board of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (AMYAC), where she advocates for Native Title rights, as well as Aboriginal employment and training. She is also a dedicated member of her local church.

Selected Group Exhibitions
• 2024 ICONIC, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• 2022 Umoona Country, APY Gallery, Sydney
• 2022 Painted Desert | Art from Umoona Art Centre, APY Gallery, Sydney
• 2022 Opal Country | Art from Umoona Art Centre, APY Gallery, Adelaide

Awards and Recognition
• 2023 – Finalist, Telstra NATSIAA

Tanya’s paintings tell the story of her Country and her love for her homelands. Through her art, Tanya reflects on her childhood spent growing up there, going out bush camping, hunting kangaroo and digging for witchery grubs and honey ants with her family. She recalls the older women gathering around fires, watching the younger generation dance and sing under the night sky.

Her works often draw inspiration from the local landscape, referencing the stunning Opals of the Kupa Piti region, the vibrant hues of The Breakaways and connections to Elders, community and the land.

“The colours they speak, they talk to you. On Country, colours show you where water is, food is, where life is.”