Kantjupayi Benson

Kantjupayi Benson is an elder of Papulankutja Community and a respected senior Law Woman. She has three children – a son and two daughters; her son and one daughter are blind and all of Kantjupayi’s art income supports these children. Kantjupayi’s parents and grandparents travelled extensively in their country and her father and grandfather were senior Law Men who carried important stories to keep their country strong.

Kantjupayi’s paintings are bold, colourful, often figurative works, telling the stories from this country that has been handed down to her from her mother and father. She is a multi-disciplinary artist, whose work is equally strong in fibre works or painting.

Kantjupayi first began making baskets and animal sculptures in 1995 after the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunyjatjara Women’s Council initiated a weaving project at Blackstone. Since then, she has not looked back and has stood out among her peers as an extremely creative and individual weaver.

In 1997 Kantjupayi first began to weave animals that she saw around the camp and out bush. She soon became renowned for these sculptures. In 2000, Kantjupayi made a set of camp crockery, fry pans, cups and billies.

Kantjupayi has painted for Papulankutja Artists until illness made the use of her hands difficult and painful.

Sometimes Kantjupayi stays at Wannarn Aged Care facility for a rest and there she tries her hand at some small works with the ladies who work with Warakurna Artists outreach activities.