Jan Gunjaka Griffiths is a dedicated and prolific artist primarily working across painting, ceramics and poetry.  Her work explores personal family narratives which have also included multi-media installations, fashion and photography.

Jan conveys the traditional stories learnt from her parents, renowned artists Peggy Griffiths and the late Mr Griffiths, interpreted through contemporary style and mediums.

"I was born in Kununurra and I went to school in Broome.  I started painting to carry on the stories of my parents, the cultural stories that were handed down to them and now to me.  Both my parents are famous artists in the Kimberley but most importantly, they are my traditional teachers.  I too can keep our tradition alive and hand the stories of our ancestors and how our country came to be, down to the next generation and generations to come.  I do this with great pride and honour.”

Jan has exhibited extensively and presented ceramic demonstrations at galleries and festivals within Australia such as the Ceramics Triennial. She was a finalist in the 2018 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), the 2020 Indigenous Fashion Awards, and exhibited at the 2021 Indian Ocean Craft Triennial. 

We share some of Jan’s recent work in our Collector’s Gallery in celebration of her selection as a recipient in the inaugural Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions and her work being displayed in the major exhibition MY COUNTRY opening at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from March 22nd 2024. Learn more.

For enquiries about artworks in the Collectors Gallery, please contact us.