The art centre is the cultural hub of the community and houses working studios, wood carving and screen-printing workshops, the architecturally designed Kutuwulumi Gallery and the Muluwurri Museum
Our Latest Artwork

Ningiwulla ngirramini kitirumi yilaruwu jilamara
keeping culture strong through art
Our Art Centre
Established in 1989, Jilamara Arts is owned and governed by artists from the community of Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands. Through workshops, training and representation Jilamara members are supported to build careers as internationally renowned artists. In the community it is an important place for many generations of Tiwi people to build bright futures.
Our Culture
Jilamara artists are known for their Tiwi style, producing contemporary works based on ceremonial body painting designs, clan totems and Tiwi creation stories.
Our Art
The term Jilamara describes “design” based on ceremonial ochre markings on the body. Reimagining these styles at the art centre has fostered a dynamic creative field for maintaining Tiwi knowledge, as well as sharing and celebrating contemporary living culture.
Wurrungura
Wurrungura is a multi-media centre and digital archive for the audiovisual documentation and distribution of Tiwi heritage and culture.
Muluwurri Museum
Established in 1988, the collection is held in trust for the Milikapiti community. This important keeping place houses the priceless collection of Tiwi artefacts, carvings, paintings, prints, photographs and war medals.
Ngawa Mantawi
Jilamara’s Ngawa Mantawi program is an inclusive disability program at the art centre, that aims to support members with diverse needs to have sustainable careers in the arts, while living at home close to family and Country.


We are Aboriginal owned and we produce authentic Tiwi art – ironwood carved birds and Tutini poles, ochre paintings on bark, canvas, linen and paper, original limited edition prints and hand screenprinted textiles.
We’re on social @jilamaraartsandcrafts
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Online still open still until tomorrow!
We may have deinstalled both DAAF and the annual Tiwi exhibition at Double Tree Hilton tonight, but for those that could not be in Darwin there’s a few amazing Jilamara carvings and ochre paintings on paper still available through the art fair’s online portal closing tomorrow morning.
@darwinartfair
#darwinaboriginalartfair #daafonline #jilamaraarts #tiwiart

We have had another amazing weekend at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. The fair closes today but there’s still time to look at DAAF online. There’s a great selection of carved birds and paintings on paper available that we can ship next week!
Repost from @darwinartfair
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The legendary Tiwi singers & dancers from Munupi and Jilamara Arts and Crafts have been winning over the crowds once again at the DAAF Sandpit.
Thanks for getting us up for a dance!
2025.daaf.com.au
@munipiarts @jilamaraartsandcrafts
📷 Photos by Dylan Buckee
#DAAF2025 #DARWINARTFAIR
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation’s Public Program is proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Wesfarmers, Agency Projects, premium media partner Peppermint Magazine, and ticketing partner Darwin Fringe Festival.

Last day of the annual Tiwi exhibition at the Double Tree Hilton Darwin Esplanade today!
This great celebration of Tiwi art from Melville Island opened with Tiwi Yoyi (dance) on Friday and closes this afternoon at 5pm. If you are lucky enough to be in Darwin this week come and visit!
Kimirrakinari (the season of smoke) — Jilamara and Munupi Arts, part of the Darwin Festival program.
116 The Esplanade, Darwin City (in the breezeway between Darwin Entertainment Centre and the Hilton)
@darwinfestival
#jilamaraartsandcrafts #tiwiart #darwinfestival

We all had a great time yesterday at the opening of Conrad Tipungwuti’s exhibition at Outstation Gallery’s new space!
Welcome! Outstation Gallery is now open - with its three amazing solo shows from Conrad Tipungwuti Kamilowra, Motorbike Paddy Ngal and Muuki Taylor - and in the windows and at the nearby pop-up is our SALON des Refusés.
What a crowd! Thankyou to everyone who came and helped us celebrate this incredible space and the fabulous artists who bring it alive.
Thank you to @jilamaraartsandcrafts and Conrad for being there tonight - and all the art centres for your support.
What a night!
#outstationgallery #grandopening #launch #love #family #collaboration #tribute #art #aboriginalart #worldclass #darwinwaterfront #northernterritory #darwinaboriginalartfair #darwinfestival #celebrate

An exhibition by CONRAD TIPUNGWUTI KAMILOWRA opening tonight✨✨✨
Conrad is presenting a suite of new works at Outstation Gallery’s amazing new space at Darwin’s Waterfront.
Turtiyanginari amintiya Purrungbarri: Ochre and Stringybark opens tonight at 5pm!
📸 — Conrad standing with a few of his exceptional ochre paintings on bark on Wulirankuwu Country. Image courtesy of the artist and Jilamara Arts. Photo: @willheathcote_art
@outstation_gallery
#conradtipungwutikamilowra #jilamaraarts #jilamaraartsandcrafts #tiwiart

We’re excited to share that Jilamara Arts has been shortlisted for the Community Collaboration Award at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) 2025 announced tonight at Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema! This nomination, supported by Canberra Centre @canberracentre acknowledges a community collaboration that celebrates locally designed and made garments for the community in Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands!
For the project Jilamara Arts reinstated 9 screen designs from the art centre’s origins as an adult education centre specialising in textile arts in the 1980s and used these locally screen-printed designs to produce garments made at the art centre and showcased at last year’s Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair ✨✨✨
#NIFA2025 #NIFA #indigenousfashionproject @indigenousfashionprojects @darwinartfair #helenkaminski #gapuwiyak #arhnemland #jilamaraarts

Rising star Barabara Puruntatameri is not only Jilamara’s DAAF feature artist, she is also a first time finalist in the Telstra NATSIA Award — congratulations on a great 2025 mantanga ✨✨✨
Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair • @darwinartfair
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✨Barbara Puruntatameri’s stunning piece✨
Barbara has had much success during annual art centre exhibitions and has gained recognition as an artist who uses Tiwi Kayimwagakimi, a carved tool used to apply dots. She learnt how to paint by watching her Grandfather paint at Munupi Arts, and decided to start her journey at Jilamara after her partner Jimmy started painting and making carvings
Discover the vibrant art of @jilamaraartsandcrafts DAAF, 7-10 August 2025! 🎨✨
#FeaturedArtist #JilamaraArts&CultureAssociation #IndigenousArt #ArtExhibitions #DAAF2025 #Aboriginalart
Barbara Puruntatameri, Kayimwagakimi Jilamara, 2024. Locally sourced earth pigments on stringybark, 70 x 48cm. Image courtesy of the Artist and Jilamara Arts.

In town for the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair @darwinartfair? Here are a few more exciting events to add to the diary 🌟
Explore art exhibitions, insightful talks, and exciting award ceremonies featuring Art Centres and artists throughout August.
Be sure to check in on our friends at:
🌟 @agencyprojects
🌟 @garma_festival_official
🌟 @the.nimas
🌟 @mag_nt
🌟 @outstation_gallery
🌟 @salonderefuses_natsiaa
🌟 @darwinfestival
- to name just a few!
#DAAF #DAAF2025 #Darwinartfair #darwin #ntaustralia #whatson #LarrakiaCountry

Jilamara was thrilled to be able to supply a few locally made garments in art centre fabric for this great project with @cassie.black_ for the Tiwi Cultural Festival last weekend — modelled by many great people including Jilamara artists Michelle Woody Minnapinni and Janice Murray ✨✨✨
Repost from @cassie.black_
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Tiwi Cultural Festival 💛🖤🤍
Super proud to have pulled off our first ever Tiwi Fashion Show featuring beautiful designs by Bima Wear, Jilamara Arts & Tiwi Design. So proud of each and every one of our models for walking so proudly and confidently on the runway, young and old they all had it in them ✨
Big love and thanks to my mum for holding it down behind the scenes helping me coordinate everything this weekend—I couldn’t have done it without you!
Glam team @faceby.em , @amybhairdressing & my cousin Maria working alongside @amybhairdressing 💁🏾♀️ thank you for making us look and feel beautiful ✨
Thank you Tiwi Land Council for the opportunity & our Tiwi community for being the best crowd and showing us all love 🥰
And thank you @foxyfilmss for capturing it so beautifully for us 📸⚡️

JOHNATHON WORLD
PEACE BUSH • @thisisnofantasy
We’re pleased to announce that Johnathon World Peace Bush’s ‘Let There Be Light’ polyptych has been selected as a finalist in the 47TH WALYALUP FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE PRINT AWARD @fremantleartscentre
Now in its 47th year, the Walyalup | Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award is Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious celebration of contemporary printmaking. The award recognises both established and emerging artists working across the full spectrum of print media—honouring traditional craftsmanship while embracing innovation through digital and cross-disciplinary practices. It consistently attracts entries from across Australia’s urban, regional, and remote communities.
Fremantle Arts Centre
16 AUG — 21 SEP 2025
Congratulations and Good Luck, Johnathon! 🧡✨️
Thank you to @fremantleartscentre, and the judges Hannah Matthews, @jessycahutchens and @t.or.rents
____________________
#thisisnofantasy #johnathonworldpeacebush @jilamaraartsandcrafts #fremantleprintaward

Congratulations to Jilamara’s Kaye Brown and first time finalist Barbara Puruntatameri for being amongst great company in this year’s NATSIA Bark Painting Award ✨✨✨
MAGNT • @mag_nt
Ten artists have been named finalists in the 2025 Telstra Bark Painting Award.
Representing regions across Arnhem Land, the Tiwi Islands and the Kimberley, these artists are continuing one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world.
🖼️ Their works are now on display at MAGNT, Darwin, as part of the 2025 Telstra NATSIAA exhibition.
🎉 The Telstra Bark Painting Award winner will be announced on August 8th at MAGNT along with other major award category winners from 6pm on the MAGNT lawns.
Finalists include:
Barbara Puruntatameri
Graham Tipungwuti
Gutiŋarra Yunupiŋu
Kaye Brown
Lucy Yarawanga
Wayilkpa Maymuru
Yalmakany Marawili
Yinimala Gumana
Angelina Karadada Boona
Obed Namirrkki
#TelstraNATSIAA #MAGNT #BarkPainting #ContemporaryIndigenousArt #FirstNationsArt #AboriginalArt #LarrakiaCountry
@jilamaraartsandcrafts @bukuartnow @maningridaarts @waringarri_arts @ngaruwanajirri

Repost from @unswgalleries
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☀️ This NAIDOC Week, we honour the enduring legacy of the first old ladies of Jilamara Arts, a generation of senior Tiwi women, including Freda Warlapinni, Kitty Kantilla, Maryanne Mungatopi, and Mary Magdalene Tipungwuti, who emerged as foundational figures in the development of Tiwi Art.
By adapting jilamara, the rhythmic mark-making used in ceremonial body design, across painting and printmaking, these artists affirmed Tiwi visual culture and helped bring it national and international prominence.
As we celebrate “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, we reflect on the strength and cultural knowledge passed down from those who came before.
—
Installation view, ‘Parlingarri Amintiya Ningani Awungarra: Old and New at Jilamara Arts’, UNSW Galleries, 2025. Photography: Jacquie Manning

To celebrate NAIDOC week come and see us at the National Indigenous Art Fair this weekend at Circular Quay on Gadagal Country!
🖤💛❤️ Shop ethical, authentic First Nations art
🎶 Experience live music, dance, and cultural performances
🎨 Join exclusive workshops with remote Indigenous artists
🍲 Explore bushfood, handmade goods, and more
Come celebrate culture, creativity, and community by the harbour.
📍 Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
📅 [10am-5pm Sat & 10am- 4pm Sun]
#NIAF2025 #IndigenousArtFair #SupportFirstNationsArtists #BlakDesign #CulturalCelebration #TheRocksSydney #jilamaraartsandcrafts #tiwiart
![To celebrate NAIDOC week come and see us at the National Indigenous Art Fair this weekend at Circular Quay on Gadagal Country!
🖤💛❤️ Shop ethical, authentic First Nations art
🎶 Experience live music, dance, and cultural performances
🎨 Join exclusive workshops with remote Indigenous artists
🍲 Explore bushfood, handmade goods, and more
Come celebrate culture, creativity, and community by the harbour.
📍 Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
📅 [10am-5pm Sat & 10am- 4pm Sun]
#NIAF2025 #IndigenousArtFair #SupportFirstNationsArtists #BlakDesign #CulturalCelebration #TheRocksSydney #jilamaraartsandcrafts #tiwiart](https://jilamara.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
For those lucky enough to be in Darwin this weekend please join us for a publication launch, artist talks and Yoyi (dance) this afternoon at Midpul Gallery in Charles Darwin University’s new city campus!
The exhibition Yipairraya arnuwujaputi / Tide going out, tide coming in ... celebrates the 35 year history of Jilamara Arts and the Muluwurri Museum as it developed from Adult Education in the mid 1980s to a thriving art centre and cultural hub of Milikapiti. The exhibition is comprised of both new and historical works loaned from the art centres collection and CDU — including recent gifts from Anne Marchement who helped establish the museum and incorporate the art centre in 1988.
In partnership with Charles Darwin University this project has been a great professional development opportunity for both artists and art staff at Jilamara as we all worked towards realising the exhibition and publishing a catalogue ✨✨
4:45pm
Gallery talk with Anne Marchment and Michelle Pulatuwayu Woody,
Early days of Jilamara Arts and Crafts and the Muluwurri Mueum Collection
Midpul Art Gallery at CDU in partnership with Jilamara Arts and Crafts
54 Cavenagh Street, Darwin
5:30pm
Exhibition party and Catalogue launch: Yipairraya arnuwujaputi / Tide going out, tide coming in ...
Midpul Art Gallery at CDU in partnership with Jilamara Arts and Crafts
54 Cavenagh Street, Darwin
@midpulartgallery @charlesdarwinuniversity
#jilamaraartsandcrafts #muluwurrimuseum #tiwiart #milikapiti

If you happen to be in Sydney this weekend and are passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art make sure you make visit Jilamara’s current exhibition at the University of New South Wales Galleries ✨✨✨
Parlingarri Amintiya Ningani Awungarri: Old and New at Jilamara Arts spans all six gallery spaces at the University and celebrates a cross-section of the incredible art work that has emerged from the small community of Milikapiti during Jilamara’s 35year history. It includes both new and histroical works loaned from a variety of collections including the Muluwurri Museum housed at the art centre.
The exhibition is curated by @inventaire in partnership with the team at Jilamara and we thank the whole team @unswgalleries for making this ambitious project possible!
University of New South Wales Galleries
Cnr Oxford St and Greens Rd, Paddington NSW 2021
Exhibition Open: 24 May — 10 August Wednesday — Sundays
#jilamaraartsandcrafts #tiwiart #unswgalleries #milikapiti #tiwiislands

This Saturday Jilamara launches a new publication for the current exhibition at the Midpul Gallery in CDU’s new city campus. With artists talks and performance this launch is part of a huge weekend of art events around the opening of the NATSIA finalist exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT ✨
Join us for an amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and performing arts celebration!
Saturday 21st June 2025 - Monday 26th January 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm
Exhibition: 2025 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT)
19 Conacher Street, The Gardens
Saturday 21st June
10:00am
Exhibition Opening: Cassaria Hogan Young and Carol Young
Laundry Gallery, 1/1 Vickers St, Parap
10:30am
Exhibition Opening: Warlukurlangu Artists - Rising Stars
Pop up @ Parap, Outstation Gallery
8 Parap Place, Parap
11:00am
Artist Talk with Gary Lee and friends, Queer Territory exhibition
Northern Centre for Contemporary Art (NCCA)
Vimy Lane, Parap
12:30pm
Exhibition Opening: Nyangulya Katie Nalgood - Paja Jirrgu Wanti (Big Mob of Birds) and the opening of the new Waterfront Gallery Space
Outstation Gallery
Shop E4A (Next to Surf, Dive & Ski) Wharf 1
Darwin Waterfront
4:00pm
Garrmalang retrospective: Our Elders - Curated one on one conversations
Studio Theatre, Darwin Entertainment Centre
93 Mitchell Street, Darwin
4:45pm
Gallery talk with Anne Marchment and Michelle Pulatuwayu Woody,
Early days of Jilamara Arts and Crafts and the Muluwurri Mueum Collection
Midpul Art Gallery at CDU in partnership with Jilamara Arts and Crafts
54 Cavenagh Street, Darwin
5:30pm
Exhibition party and Catalogue launch: Yipairraya arnuwujaputi / Tide going out, tide coming in ...
Midpul Art Gallery at CDU in partnership with Jilamara Arts and Crafts
54 Cavenagh Street, Darwin
5:30pm
Exhibition Opening: Garrmalang Photographic Retrospective
The Gallery
Darwin Entertainment Centre
93 Mitchell Street, Darwin
> yourcentre.com.au
7:30pm
Garrmalang Festival event:
Dan Sultan with the Darwin
Symphony Orchestra Quintet
The Playhouse
Darwin Entertainment Centre
93 Mitchell Street, Darwin
> yourcentre.com.au

Locally produced Jilamara fabrics and garment designs starring at Barunga Festival on the weekend as part of UNEARTHED 2025✨✨✨
Big shout out to the amazing Jilamara models DK and Columbiere Tipungwuti — as well as Cassie Putuntatameri @cassie.black_ for putting this great festival show together!
These garments are made locally in Milikapiti by the team at Jilamara Arts with Art Centre Manager and sewing guru Hannah Raisin @hannahraisin_art using fabrics hand screen-printed at the art centre by local staff.
Stay tuned as this community-based fashion project has also been shortlisted for NIFA 2025 — Community Collaboration Award @indigenousfashionprojects
Photography: @daveblakephoto
@barungafest
#columbieretipungwuti #jilamaraarts #cassiepuruntatameri #barungafestival #tiwiart #indigenousfashion

Jilamara’s Walter Brooks and an amazing group of future art centre leaders have been part of this years ANKA Artsworker Extension Program! Today they have been in Melbourne working at the University and visiting the Potter Museum — tomorrow they present public presentations at the Grimwade Centre. Friends in Melbourne please see details below…✨✨✨
💥 One day to go // MELBOURNE, 12th June💥
Opening new pathways: employment and leadership in remote Aboriginal art and culture centres
What does leadership look like in a remote Aboriginal art and culture centre?
What role do Aboriginal art and culture centres play in keeping culture strong and communities connected?
ANKA in partnership with the University of Melbourne Grimwade Centre invites you to a public event in Melbourne. You’ll hear directly from cultural leaders who work at the heart of Aboriginal art and culture centres in remote Northern Australia.
Presenters will address their roles, daily life and leadership in their communities and how they are sustaining and growing culture today.
🟠 Event details
Melbourne
📅 TOMORROW | 🕠 5:30–7:00 pm
📍 University of Melbourne, Fritz Loewe Theatre
📧 RSVP: awepprogram@anka.org.au – let us know if you can attend. All welcome!

We are supported by
The art centre is the cultural hub of Milikapiti Community, it is also an important place for local school children to learn through culture classes and for many generations of Tiwi people to build bright futures.