Munupi Arts

Munupi Arts is a proudly Tiwi-owned art centre located at Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island — part of the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin. The centre plays a vital role in maintaining and sharing Tiwi culture through contemporary art practice, providing a platform for artists to express their deep connection to Country, culture and Tiwi creation stories.

Artists at Munupi draw rich inspiration from their lush island environment — coastal mangroves, bushlands, and the life of the sea — as well as from ancestral narratives passed down through generations. Works often reflect jilamara (body paint designs), totemic animals, ceremonial motifs and depictions of natural cycles.

Munupi Arts is celebrated for the diversity of its creative output. Artists work across a broad range of mediums including painting with ochres, gouache and acrylic; pottery and sculpture; wood carving; fibre weaving; printmaking (screen prints, etchings, linocuts and lithographs); and textiles. The centre is particularly renowned for its beautiful screen-printed fabrics, which translate Tiwi designs into contemporary fashion and homewares.

Through their art, Munupi artists not only strengthen cultural identity but also generate income that supports local families and sustains cultural practice on the islands. As part of the broader Tiwi art movement, Munupi Arts contributes a unique voice and perspective — one that is innovative, bold and deeply rooted in tradition.