Monica Watson

Puntjina was born at Pukara, an important rockhole and water snake Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) site in Western Australia. As a young girl, she walked to Pukatja (Ernabella) with her father and his three wives — the youngest of them was celebrated artist Wingu Tingima. Puntjina worked in the craft room at Pukatja when she was younger, but she then married Wimitja Watson — a Ngangkari (traditional healer) — and moved to Amata, and had many children. During the homelands movement they moved back to Pipalyatjara. Puntjina is an important elder who travels widely for cultural business. Known for her vibrant use of colour, Puntjina also has a unique approach to composition, often framing her paintings with an intricate border created by a plethora of coloured dots. She paints every day at Ninuku Arts, and is one of the art centre’s leading artists.