Coming Soon / Desert Mob 2025
Desert Mob is back for 2025 with hundreds of artists from 35 art centres across the desert converging on Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to celebrate desert culture in the heart of Australia.
Tjanpi is excited to be not only exhibiting at Desert Mob, but also participating in the beloved Desert Mob Marketplace.
EXHIBITION
11 September - 26 October 2025
Araluen Arts Centre
The Desert Mob 2025 Exhibition showcases over 30 Art Centres and is an invitation to view hundred of works by artists who are members of Aboriginal-governed community art centres across Central Australia.
This year at Desert Mob, Pukatja weavers bring the energy of desert sports to life through a joyful new series of sculptural fibre artworks titled Tjapu-tjapu Inkama! (Play Ball!).
From softball, football and basketball, to the colour and excitement of carnivals across the NPY Lands, these woven figures capture the spirit of connection, movement and pride.
Players and supporters alike travel long distances to cheer on their teams, with cars painted, houses decorated, and even the kurparu (magpies) swooping down to join the crowd.
Each work is crafted from steel car seat frames, tjanpi (native desert grasses), raffia, wool and found materials, showcasing the creativity and ingenuity of desert women artists.
Feature artists: Michaela Abbott, Imiyari Adamson, Ms Adamson (dec), Angelina Bradley, Jacinta Heffernan, Noreen Heffernan, Sylvanna Kenny, Carolyn Kenta, Imuna Kenta, Yuminia Kenta, Daisybell Kulyuru, Tjulyata Kulyuru, Lynette Lewis. Technical assistance by Kate Murphy.
All works will be available for sale.
MARKETPLACE
Saturday 13 September 2025
10am - 2pm
Araluen Arts Centre
The Desert Mob Marketplace is a large buzzing art market, bringing together paintings, punu, ceramics, weaving, sculpture, textiles and merchandise from Aboriginal-owned art centres across Central Australia.
Tjanpi will be presenting a stall filled with loads of lovely new Tjanpi sculptures, baskets and merchandise including tshirts, tote bags, tea towels and more!
Banner image features Lynette Lewis at the Desert Mob workshop in Pukatja (Ernabella). Photo by Kate Murphy. Exhibition image features Tjapu-tjapu Inkama (Play Ball!). Photo by Kate Murphy. Marketplace image features Tjanpi staff Veronica and Ilse at Desert Mob Marketplace 2024. Photo by Desart.
