Julie’s paintings shimmer with exuberant energy. She captures the intensity and power of country where the Iwantja Tjukitji (Iwantja Soakage) is located, and which holds the story of the Tjurki (native owl.)

Julie was born in the cool waters of the Iwantja creek, next to the large Tjukitji. The area is shaded by large gum trees, and the banks of the creek nestle close to large boulders. As a child she and her family lived here in a hand-built wiltja (shelter).

Yankunytjatjara families played in the creek waters and drank from the soakage. The water gave vitality and life to the area, and provided a cool place for the families to live during the hot summers.

This special Tjukitji is where the Indulkana community first began. This place also holds the tjukurpa of the Tjurki who travelled across the desert and came to live in a large gum tree by the creek, to watch over the Anangu and keep them safe.

Iwantja Arts is an artist studio located within the remote Indigenous community of Indulkana, on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Iwantja Arts is an Aboriginal corporation owned and governed by a board of directors. The art centre aims to encourage and support artistic excellence and cultural development within the community by providing opportunities, career development, and economic independence for practicing artists.