Elizabeth Dunn Pitjantjatjara, b. 1973

Elizabeth was born in Ernabella in 1973. She went to high school in Adelaide before returning home. She spent her childhood watching her elders paint and now depicts her grandmother's country, a place named Piltati near Nyapari, on canvas. She also depicts stories relating to Kampurara - Bush Tomatoes. She is also a talented Tjanpi weaver and jeweler. She first began painting at Papunya Tjupi Arts in Papunya community. 

Elizabeth is a rising star of the Ernabella ceramics studio. In August 2016 her ceramic work was exhibited alongside six other Ernabella women in a collaborative ceramics installation as part of the Indigenous Ceramics Art Award at the Shepparton Art Museum and subsequently acquired by the National Museum of Australia. 

In 2017 Elizabeth had her ceramics exhibited in major exhibitions at Talapi Gallery, Sturt Gallery, Alcaston Gallery, Harvey Arts (USA) and Araluen Art Centre as part of Desert Mob. 

Her work also featured in Clay Stories: Contemporary Indigenous ceramics from remote Australia at JamFactory presented by Sabbia Gallery, Sydney for Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Clay Stories toured regional galleries throughout 2018 and 2019. 

In March 2018, Elizabeth’s work was exhibited in the APY Gallery's inaugural exhibition - MALATJA TJUTANGKU ARA IRITITJA KUNPUNKU | Old Knowledge, Young Blood. In the same year her work was exhibited in Art from the APY Art Centre Collective at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne and Hold our connection to country strong for malatja-malatja (future generations) at Aboriginal Signature gallery, Brussels, among others. 

In 2018 Elizabeth was shortlisted for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and was the winner of the Indigenous Award, Port Hacking Potter Group 50th National Pottery Competition. 

 In 2019 Elizabeth was offered representation by Sabbia Gallery, Sydney as well as featured in the Desert Mob Exhibition at the Araluen Art Centre and the Desert Colour featuring Ernabella ceramics exhibition at Talapi Gallery, both in Alice Springs. Her work was also shown in Switzerland in the Before Time Began: Contemporary Aboriginal Art.

Her paintings have been exhibited by Everywhen Artspace since 2021, appearing in group exhibitions Winter Salon 2021, Minyma Mankurpa Ernabella La Nguru (Three Ladies from Ernabella), 2021, A Spring Selection, 2022 and The Summer Show 2023: Grand Design.

 

Group Exhibitions

2022

The Summer Show: Grand Design, Everywhen Artspace, Flinders, VIC

A Spring Selection, Everywhen Artspace, Flinders, VIC

2021

Caress the Earth : Manta Ngura Atuntju Kanyini - Aboriginal Signature, Bruxelles, Belgium
Flying Colours, Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs, NT

Minyma Mankurpa Ernabella La Nguru (Three Ladies from Ernabella), Everywhen Artspace, Flinders, VIC

Winter Salon 2021, Everywhen Artspace, Flinders, VIC
2020 Cultural Connections: the gift of story - Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle

Tarnarthi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art: Open Hands - Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Spring Salon Art - Artitja Fine Art, York, WA
Ernabella Arts: About place - Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle
Nganampa Tjukurpa Ananyi Kakarara (Our Stories Going East) - Aboriginal Contemporary, Sydney, NSW

I know my Country - Artitja Gallery, South Fremantle, WA The Space Within - Sabbia Gallery, Sydney, NSW

Nganampa ngura-nguru nyurampa ngurakutu (From our place to your place) - Aboriginal Signature, Brussels,

Belguim
2019 Before Time Began: Contemporary Aboriginal Art - Collaborative artwork. Fondation Opale, Lens, Switzerland

Desert Mob 2019 - Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs, NT

Desert Colour featuring Ernabella ceramics - Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2018 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Finalist

Port Hacking Potter Group 50th National Pottery Competition 2018, Finalist - Hazlehurst Gallery, Sydney

Hold our connection to country strong for malatja-malatja (future generations) - Aboriginal Signature, Brussels, Belguim
Port Hacking Potter Group 50th National Pottery Competition 2018, Finalist - Hazlehurst Gallery, Gymea Piltati-Nya Ngura Pulka- Piltati, more important than place - APY Gallery, Darlinghurst, NSW

Knowing Country - Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle
Spring Salon Art + Objects - York Festival, Artitja Fine Art, York, WA
Art from the APY Art Centre Collective - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
MALATJA TJUTANGKU ARA IRITITJA KUNPUNGKU KANYINI | Old Knowledge, Young Blood - APY Gallery, Darlinghurst, NSW
Something Blue - Sabbia Gallery

2017 Nyuyuntjaku - Keeping the fire alive | New paintings & ceramics by Ernabella Arts - Harvey Arts, USA In These Hands: Mara Nyangangka - Sturt Gallery, Mittagong NSW
Clay Stories: Contemporary Indigenous ceramics from remote Australia - Sabbia Gallery, Sydney NSW Desert Mob 2017 - Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs NT

Our Country in Clay - Nomad Art, Darwin NT
Little Creatures - Big Country - Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs, NT Artists of the APY Lands: 2017 - Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne VIC

2016 Desert Mob - Araluen Arts Centre
Indigenous Ceramics Art Award 2016 - Shepparton Art Museum Malpa Wiru - Signal Point Gallery
The Blooming Desert - Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs

2015 Colour your world - Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle
2013 A Love of Country: The Indigenous Perspective - Seymour College, Adelaide SA

Collections

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

Awards

Winner, Indigenous Award, Port Hacking Potter Group

50th National Pottery Competition 2018