Conrad Kamilowra Tipungwuti

Born in ‘old camp’ amongst the strong traditions and regular ceremonies of his people, Conrad began painting when he moved into the township of Milikapiti and lived next door to the Jilamara Arts and Crafts Centre. Jilamara provides a working space for Tiwi artists, promoting their art careers while they remain in their community, close to family and country. Like many Tiwi artists, Conrad uses natural ochres sourced from his local area and painted on the rich, textured surface of linen. He draws upon designs drawn from the body painting of Pukumani (funeral) ceremony and Kulama (initiation) ceremony. The small dots and circles designate the abundance of yams that grow during the wet season. The heavy cascade of rain (Paktiringa) can fall for months, and its finale is always heralded by a ring of light encircling the full moon (Japarra). Then it is a time of celebrating fertility and growth, as the rivers and lagoons are full and the island is lush. Conrad’s classic and expressive style very often features these rich aspects of Tiwi life in both paint and print. At Melbourne art fair 2025 he drew attention with his series of paintings in earth pigments, depicting Warnarringa (the Sun). Since the late 1990’s when he began painting, Conrad has become one of the top Tiwi artists, with work in Du Musee des Confluences Paris, NGA Canberra, NGV Melbourne and the University Museums of Darwin, Perth and QLD.