Emily Cullinan

Emily Cullinan was born near Mimili, South Australia, and lived a traditional Anangu existence with her family: travelling consistently, hunting and collecting bush food along the way and having little contact with non-Indigenous people.

As cattle stations were established in the area, Emily went to work in domestic service at Granite Downs. While working at the Granite Downs stationmaster’s house Emily met her husband, a stockman from nearby Walatinna.

Emily, her husband and their children settled in Indulkana, where Emily continued to pass on to her young family the traditional knowledge of hunting and finding bush foods and water sources that she learnt from her own parents as a young girl.

These days Emily is a respected senior woman and an established artist. Emily’s dynamic paintings are inspired by memories of her childhood, living traditionally on Country with her parents and the many journeys they undertook.