Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Australian Fiber Art

The Tjanpi Desert Weavers of Australia, led by artist Cynthia Burke, include the weaving styles of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjatjara cultures from Australia’s Central Desert region. Using dry native grasses, wool, and raffia, these talented women create intricate fiber artworks that pay homage to the energies and rhythms of culture and community. Wool is used to manipulate the grass into sculptural forms referencing camels, donkeys, and birds to traditional basket weaving techniques, each piece tells a story of connection to the land and the passing down of ancestral knowledge.

For over 30 years, Tjanpi has been more than just a creative endeavor; it’s been a lifeline for women in remote communities. Through paid opportunities for their artwork, skills development workshops, and grass-collecting trips, Tjanpi provides women a way to earn an income while preserving and sharing their cultural heritage.

Cynthia Burke, a proud member of the Ngaanyatjarra community, learned weaving skills from her mother, the esteemed artist Jean Burke. Today, Cynthia continues her family’s legacy by infusing her own style into her creations, adding emu feathers, incorporating intricate stitching techniques, and using dyes made from native plants.