About Kayi Kayi Nampitjinpa
Kayi Kayi was born around 1946 in the bush just west of Kiwirrkurra in WA. She was married to Billy Nolan Tjapangardi. She began painting in 1996. She is part of the second generation of female artists, most of whom already had many years of experience assisting the first generation of male painters from Papunya.
These women started to emerge from the shadows of the men in the second half of the 80s and developed a sophisticated, unique, and refined style. Kayi Kayi has the custodial rights to paint the sacred and secret Tingari Dreamings (stories) relating to her country Kiwirkurra.
The Tingari were a group of mythical creatures from the Dreamtime who travelled vast stretches of desert, performed sacred rituals, taught law, and shaped and created particular features in the landscape. The distinct style of Kayi Kayi gives these stories a unique perspective. She paints primarily rock hole Dreamings places and ceremonies associated with women. She paints her country at Ngaripungu and Marapinti SW of Kiwirrkurra.