Yanyangkari Roma Butler

Irrunytju (Wingellina), WA

Yanyangkari Roma Butler is a weaver belonging to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group. She was born in 1959 at Wilu Rockhole, on the kanyala tjukurpa track near Amata in South Australia. Yanyangkari spent her early years at Ernabella Mission and then travelled by camel to Milyirrtjarra (Warburton) in Western Australia where she went to school. She then lived in Irrunytju (Wingellina), WA and has recently relocated to Warakurna, WA.

Yanyangkari is an award-winning Tjanpi sculptural artist, and her Tjanpi artworks are recognisable by their dynamism and character, quirky details, and inventive stitching. Yanyangkari's works were included in the 56th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2015 as part of Kuka Irititja for the Fiona Hall exhibition Wrong Way Time in the Australia Pavilion. Roma and the Tjanpi artists in this exhibition made animals from the desert region that are endangered or extinct. Yanyangkari was also a finalist in the 2015 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, and was the winner of Best Sculptural Work in the 2018 Hedland Art Award for her sculpture, Nyukali. In 2020 Yanyangkari was involved in the National Gallery of Australia’s commissioned work, Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters), a key work featured in the Know My Name : Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now exhibition celebrating women artists from across the country. Yanyangkari's self portrait, Ngayulu Munu Ngayuku Papa (Me and My Dogs) was a finalist in the 2021 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards.

Yanyangkari is an important senior law-woman; she was also one of the first female camerawomen on the lands and was instrumental in creating Ngaanyatjarra Media. A joyous woman of many talents, Yanyangkari is a wonderful storyteller, keen hunter and knowledge holder, and loves to work with young women to teach and maintain culture.