Lucinda Puruntatameri

Lucinda Puruntatameri grew up in Pirlangimpi, where she attended the local primary school. She earned scholarships to study at the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Armidale, NSW, and later attended Downlands College in Toowoomba. Lucinda is one of six children and has a son. Her father's country is Rangini on Melville Island, and her mother's country is Malawu on Bathurst Island. She has three totems: Kirilima (Jungle Fowl), Jurrukukuni (Night Owl), and Yamparriparri (Shooting Star). Growing up, Lucinda watched her mother, Shirley Puruntatameri—a Tiwi elder and artist—and other elders paint, which inspired her to start painting at the age of 20. Both she and her mother are dedicated artists at Munupi Arts, where they work almost every weekday. © Adrian Newstead