SYDNEY.- Respected Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) community Elder Naomi Kantjuriny has won the Sir John Sulman Prize 2024 and $40,000 for her work Minyma mamu tjuta, which depicts mamu, good and bad spirits that come in different forms and with varying powers.

A first-time Sulman finalist, Kantjuriny is the third Indigenous Australian to win the Sulman Prize.

Kantjuriny mainly works across painting and drawing, but is also a basket-maker and wood carver. She is a ngangkari or traditional healer who specialises in women’s and children’s health and provides treatments for the mind, body and spirit.

Upon hearing the news of her win, Kantjuriny said: ‘I am so happy to win the Sulman Prize. I am an artist and a ngangkari. I started working at my art centre, Tjala Arts, many years ago alongside senior women: Nyurpaya Kaika Burton, Langaliki Derose, Tjampawa Kawiny, Wawiriya Burton, Ruby Williamson, Katanari Tjilya and Paniny Mick. We grew it for the young ones (and the generations to come) – Yaritji Young, Tjungkara Ken, Sylvia Ken and Muna Kulyuru – and now they have found their way and love painting too. I’ve been painting for 30 years, and I love it. I love what my art centre is and the support it provides for my community.

‘The story of the mamu is a story we sing and dance to. Mamu are good and bad spirits, sometimes they hold scary stories that teach lessons to the grandkids, sometimes they are funny and joyful stories that make us all laugh. Mamu also protect us from illness and danger. Our culture is in everything we do, and I hope culture will be celebrated at Tjala Arts forever, but today is a happy day,’ said Kantjuriny.

The Sir John Sulman Prize is awarded to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist and is judged by a guest artist each year. This year’s Sulman Prize judge is Sydney artist Tom Polo, who selected Kantjuriny’s work from a field of 40 finalists.

‘From an outstanding collection of finalists, Naomi Kantjuriny’s Minyma mamu tjuta reached out to me repeatedly during the judging process. The dynamism within her composition and bold use of black and white to depict mamu made this work one of conviction, and a joy to return to. It was great learning more about Naomi’s work during this year’s Sulman Prize,’ said Polo.

All finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2024 will be exhibited at the Art Gallery from Saturday 8 June to Sunday 8 September 2024.

Following the exhibition at the Art Gallery, Archibald Prize 2024 finalist works will tour to five venues across New South Wales and, for the first time, to the Northern Territory, offering audiences outside Sydney the opportunity to see the finalist portraits up close and personal.

Wynne Prize 2024 finalist works will tour to four venues in regional New South Wales. The Wynne Prize regional tour is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Blockbusters Funding initiative.