Tjinkuma Wells

Biography of Tjinkuma Wells

Tjinkuma Wells entered the world in Pukatja, born directly on the earth amidst the grass and stones. Her father, the esteemed artist and revered Elder Ginger Wikilyiri, hails from Tjungu Palya, instilling in Tjinkuma a deep connection to her cultural roots. Raised in Pukatja, she received her education there, but as a teenager, she chose to elope and later pursued a career in teaching, eventually becoming qualified in the field. Tjinkuma dedicated many years to teaching at Ernabella School.

Approximately a decade ago, Tjinkuma made the transition to Adelaide, where she spent 3-4 years working at Woodville High School in St Clair. However, her passion for painting remained a constant, and since the establishment of APY Studio Adelaide in 2019, Tjinkuma has been actively contributing her artistic talents to the studio.