PROFILE
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.
"I was born in Kununurra and I went to school in Broome. I started painting at Waringarri Arts in 2015 to carry on the stories of my parents, Peggy and A. Griffiths - 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. I am a multi-disciplinary artist and my arts practice includes paintings, poetry, ceramics and couture fashion. "
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.
Collections
CITY OF PERTH COLLECTION, WA
SHEPPARTON ART MUSEUM COLLECTION, VIC
KERRY STOKES COLLECTION, WA
BENDIGO ART GALLERY
, VIC
JUDITH NIELSON COLLECTION, NSW
Commissions
2019 Presentation at Australian Ceramic Triennial Hobart TAS
2017 Totemic Terracotta Workshop with Bernard Kerr, Midland Junction Arts Centre, Midland WA
2017 Ceramic Residency, JamFactory, Adelaide SA
Residencies
2020 Public Wokshop, Tarnanthi 2020, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide SA
2019 Presentation at Australian Ceramic Triennial Hobart TAS
2017 Totemic Terracotta Workshop with Bernard Kerr, Midland Junction Arts Centre, Midland WA
2017 Ceramic Residency, JamFactory, Adelaide SA
Image of Jan Griffiths in her Waterlily Dress, photo by Chris Baker and Grace Lillian Lee.
Jan Griffiths
WaringarriFeatured Artwork
