Mary Gibson woven lizard sculpture

A lizard sculpture by Mary Gibson, an artist living between Kaltukatjara (NT) and Warakurna (WA) communities.

The artist wove Tjanpi grass, acrylic wool and raffia together to create the green and blue tinka (lizard) sculpture, which is 59 cm long and 15 cm tall.

Mary Gibson was born bush way at Kuluwarri, west of Kulkurta. As a child she lived in the bush with her family, and in later years they walked to Papunya to live. She now lives between Kaltukatjara (NT) and Warakurna (WA) communities. Mary is an important cultural elder and a talented and prolific artist, making strong large baskets as well as quirky sculptures with lovely stitching detail. Mary is always creating, and loves to learn new skills and ways of making Tjanpi. Mary can often be found sitting alongside her family members, such as leading artist Yanyangkari Roma Butler, sharing and making Tjanpi together.

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.

The sculpture is part of our shop collection celebrating Anmatyerr artist from Alhalker Country in the Northern Territory, Australia, Emily Kam Kngwarray.

• Artist Mary Gibson
• Dimensions L59cm x W8cm x H15cm
• Material Tjanpi grass, acrylic wool, raffia
• ISBN 30619