Wanatjura Lewis

Wanatjura Lewis is an artist belonging to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group and lives in the remote community of Amata, South Australia.

Wanatjura is a multi-disciplined artist and strong advocate for women and children across the NPY Lands. She is a Director at NPY Women’s Council and has been on the board since 2017. Wanatjura has 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

Born in 1952 in Pukatja (Ernabella), Wanatjura later moved to Amata with her family and completed year 8 of schooling. She later worked at Amata Anangu School as an Aboriginal Education Worker and School Coordinator. Wanatjura simultaneously sat as a member on the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee (PYEC), an Anangu-run organisation that leads the strategy for the education of Anangu in Anangu schools.

A gifted artist, Wanatjura first learnt batik art practice at Ernabella and then started painting with Tjala Arts. Her painted work has been exhibited multiple times at Better World Arts. Wanatjura’s interest in weaving was sparked through the influence of her mother and other senior Tjanpi artists in Amata community, including Ilawanti Ken, Mrs Kaika Burton and Naomi Kantjuri. Wanatjura slowly gained confidence and skill through assisting these women in large-scale exhibition works and by participating in skills and development workshops held in community. She now produces tightly woven baskets and sculptures and preferences beautiful soft colours in her material choice. Wanatjura’s sculptural skills have developed greatly in recent years, and she now creates distinctive, robust animals who are especially cute in character. Wanatjura participated in an illustration workshop in 2021 with fellow NPYWC Directors and Tjanpi artists, and created a gorgeous ute design which features in Tjanpi’s 2024 merchandise range.