Leonie Kamutu

Leonie Kamutu

Skin name:NapaltjarriLanguage:Luritja, PintupiDate of birth:1948-01-01From:Kintore - WalungurruCommunity:Papunya : NT

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Biography

Leonie was born in the bush at Ikunytji (Haasts Bluff). Her mother was Malyungka Nangala and her father was Kamutu Tjungarrayai. Her mother said she was from Tjukurla in WA. Leonie is the younger sister of Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra’s first wife, Susette. Leonie sees herself as the ‘younger auntie’ of Long Jack’s eldest daughter Charlotte Phillipus. Leonie attended school at Papunya. Her first husband was Dalton Abbott Ngala Bangarta, with whom she had two daughters. She had seven children with her second husband Kenny Lillius (b. 1951) of whom Kayleen Lillius is the eldest. Kenny was the brother of Kiwirrkura Chairman Jimmy Brown. Leonie says she is now on her own. She has many granchildren, some of them married with children of their own. Leonie’s Dreaming is Kanparraka or centipede. Kamutu’s dreaming was Mala (wallaby) and the country at Tjunginpa. Nyuman was her father’s and grandfather’s place, which is the place for the Dog Dreaming and the orange lizard Dreaming (Lingakurra). Her father’s brother was Tjungarrayi Kingsley, who was one of the first painters at Papunya in 1971. 

Her sister Tilly Napaltjarri and her both learnt painting from their father’s brother. 

Past Exhibitions

  • Ikuntji Textiles Exhibition, Central Craft, Alice Springs. 2019-09-06
  • National Indigenous Art Fair, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2019-06-28
  • 12th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2018-08-09
  • WOMADELAIDE, Adelaide 2016-03-09
  • Ikuntji Artists – Paintings from Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory, Jaktman Australian Contemporary Art Gallery 2016-02-24
  • Tarnanthi Festival Art Fair, Tandanya Institute. Adelaide 2015-10-08
  • Beckworth Gallery, Ballarat, VIC, "Ikuntji Artists" 2008-12-31
  • Desert Sands Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Mayfair London, U.K., ‘Ikuntji’ 2008-12-31
  • QDos Gallery, Lorne (Victoria), "Ikuntji Show" 2007-12-31
  • Kingsfisher Gallery, Perth, Western Australia, "Ikuntji Women Painters" 2007-12-31
  • Jennifer Guerrini-Maraldi Contemporary Fine Art, London England, "Ikuntji Artists" 2007-12-31
  • Victoria Carroll and Jennifer Guerrini Maraldi, Battersea London, U.K., ‘Ikuntji’ 2007-12-31
  • Australia Dreaming Art, Melbourne, "Group Show" 2006-12-31
  • Gadfly Gallery, Perth "Senior Aboriginal Women Artists of Central Australia" 2005-12-31