Helen Curtis

Born 1973

Language Group Pitjantjatjara

Region APY Lands

Helen was born in the Alice Springs hospital over 600kms from her traditional country Cave Hill, near Amata, where she grew up. Cave Hill is the songline of the Seven Sisters' Tjukurpa; an important Dreaming site for the central desert people.

 

Her family moved to Mutjitjulu at Uluru (Ayres Rock) where she worked as a guide for Anangu Tours. She taught visitors about Aboriginal culture and traditional food collection and preparation.

 

Today Helen lives with her mother Angkaliya Curtis at Nyapari Community. Located about 100kms south of Uluru, Nyapari is set at the base of the majestic Mann Ranges in the heart of country traditionally owned by the Pitjantjatjara people. These ranges known to Anangu as Murputja, likening the mountain to the bony ridge of a person’s spine, are the source of many water holes and traditional camping places. The homelands of Kanpi, Nyapari, Angatja, Umpukulu and Tjankanu have grown from these seasonal camping places into permanent settlements.

 

Group Exhibitions

2023       Wiru Tjukurpa - Beautiful Law Story, Short St Gallery, Broome WA

2020       Tjurkupa Mulapa – This is a true story: Short St Gallery, Broome, WA

2017       PALYA: NYAPARI NOW, Short St Gallery, Broome WA

2017       ‘Ngayulu Mantangka Walkatjunanyi’ Outstation Gallery Darwin.

2017       Empirantes Eternales, Aboriginal Signature , Brussels.

2016       Desert Mob, Aralven Cultural Precinct, Alice Springs.

2016       Good Together, Short St Gallery. Broome, WA

2014       The Womens Show, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

2014       The Bold and the Beautiful, Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs

2014       Tjukutjuku walka walka walka pulka tjurkurpa, Outstation, Darwin, NT

2013       Tjungu Palya, Marshall Arts, Adelaide, SA

2013       Rising Stars, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT

2013       APY Lands Survey Exhibition, Outstation Gallery, Darwin, NT

2013       Minymaku Ara - Womens Way, Viven Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria.

2013       Tjukurpa Wangka: Storytellers. Short St Gallery , Broome, WA.

2013       New Paintings Chapman Gallery, Canberra., ACT

2012       Desert Mob

2012       Araluen Cultural Precinct, Alice Springs.

2011       Ngura Tjukuritja - A Dreaming Place Marshall Arts, Adelaide,

2010       Partnerships Marshall Arts, Adelaide, South Australia

2010       Tjungu Palya Survey Show Short St Gallery, Broome, Western Australia

2010       Tjukurpa Outstation Gallery, Darwin, Northern Territory.

2009       Alwara-wara - Side by Side Outstation, Darwin, Northern Territory.

2009       Anangu Backyard Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, South Australia

 

Collections

ARTBANK

 

Bibliography

2010       James, Dianna. 'Colour comes up from the ground' Outstation Catalogue

2012       'Desert Mob lays out the legacy', Nicolas Rothwell for The Australian, Sept13th

Artworks

Wati Tree - 2024 - BBB0355
Helen Curtis
  • $4,400.00