Barry Kantilla

Barry Kantilla is a celebrated Tiwi carver, known for his skilled carving of Tutini (Pukumani poles) and painted depictions of significant Tiwi ancestral figures like Purukapali, Bima, and Tapara. In 2005, he collaborated with David Tipuamantumirri on a commissioned piece for the Dutch Ambassador to Australia, and in 2008, he created a Tutini commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Tiwi Land Council. Kantilla was also commissioned to carve a Tutini for the entrance of Wurrumiyanga Cemetery in 2008, supported by Commonwealth funding. His talent continues to gain recognition, and in 2022, he, along with Gordon and David Tipuamantumirri and Graham Tipungwuti, was selected for the prestigious Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for their collaborative piece, First Death on the Tiwi Islands.