David Tipuamantumirri

David Tipuamantumirri is a talented Tiwi artist celebrated for his vibrant Ironwood carvings painted with natural ochres. His sculptures, often featuring unique Tiwi figurative heads and intricately carved birds, reflect Tiwi cultural stories and traditions. David has collaborated on several significant projects. In 2005, he worked with Barry Kantilla to carve and paint a large Tutini sculpture, which was gifted to the departing Ambassador by the Royal Dutch Embassy in Canberra. That same year, he contributed one of four Tutini carvings commissioned by the Tiwi Land Council to commemorate 300 years of European contact with the Tiwi people. In 2008, he partnered with Francis Kerinaiua to create a Tutini for the 30th anniversary of the Tiwi Land Council’s founding. He also collaborated with Barry Kantilla again to produce a Tutini for the Wurrumiyanga Cemetery, a meaningful addition to the community. One of David’s standout achievements came in 2022 when a collaborative Purukupali figure, created with Gordon Pupangamirri, Barry Kantilla, and Graham Tipungwuti, was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Wynne Prize. David’s work has been acquired by the Charles Darwin University Art Collection and various private collections.