Ilawanti Ken

Ilawanti Ken is an artist belonging to the Pitjantjatjara language and cultural group and lives in the remote community of Amata, South Australia. Ilawanti consistently produces unique and high quality woven sculptures and baskets. Her personal artistic style is often flamboyant in colour, texture and overall design. She uses her Tjanpi creations to reflect upon community life, her values of looking after family and keeping safe from harm.

Ilawanti has exhibited her woven works widely on a national scale since 2007 and is represented in major national collections in institutes such as The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and Art Gallery of South Australia. Ilawanti plans to exhibit works at Before Time Began: Contemporary Abogirinal Art alongside fellow Tjanpi artists at Fondation Opale, Switzerland in mid-2021.

As well as being a highly skilled and innovative weaver, Ilawanti is a well-respected painter with Tjala Arts. Ilawanti is also a strong cultural leader in her community and ngangkari (traditional healer) with Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunyjatjara Women’s Council Ngangkari program.

 Tjanpi Desert Weavers (Tjanpi meaning ‘wild grass’) is an award-winning, Indigenous governed and directed social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council (NPYWC).  Tjanpi empowers over 400 women across a 350 000 square km area of the tri-state region of NT, SA and WA to earn an income and remain in their communities on Country.