BIOGRAPHY

Nyurpaya Kaika Burton OAM is an artist and longstanding director of Tjala Arts in Amata community and director and fromer Chairwomen of the APY Art Centre Collective. Nyurpaya has enjoyed a career as a committed practicing artist first working in Ernabella community and later in Amata community. Nyurpaya is a multi disciplinary artist, she is a published writer, writing in her language Pitjantjatjara. She is also a singer, dancer, a weaver and visual artist.

Nyurpaya Kaika has been a respected and revered regional leader for over 40 years. She was a teacher at Ernabella School, a role she relished for her ability to impact future generations through an education which embraced Anangu cultural values. Nyurpaya also enjoyed a role in regional leadership through her role as a Director of NPY Women’s Council.

She has been a constant presence in the APY Art Movement. Nyupraya and her sister Langaliki De Rose were two of the driving forces in establishing Minymaku Arts, the art centre that would become Tjala Arts, one of the most prestigious art centres operating in Australia today. Her leadership and mentorship of younger artists has inspired the participation of hundreds of young women into the APY Art Centres.

Nyurpaya was married to senior man, Kunmanara (Willy) Kaika Burton and together they had three children.