Rosalind Yibardi is a senior artist and previous director of Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara Art. She is also a member of both the NPY Women’s Council and the acclaimed Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s choir.
Rosalind has been painting canvas and weaving baskets and sculptures from tjanpi (native grasses) for many years and has passed these skills onto her children and grandchildren.
Early life
Rosalind was born near Puta Puta, around 90 kilometres east of Kaltukatjara (Docker River). She has lived and travelled throughout the Western Desert region. As a young girl, she lived in Putarti, before travelling through the ranges on a camel-drawn cart to Tempe Downs. At the age of seven, she moved from Tempe Downs to Areyonga, walking there with her family.
Rosalind later moved to Kaltukatjara with her three children, to live closer to her birthplace.
From educator to respected elder
Rosalind worked at community schools in both Areyonga and Kaltukatjara, and fondly remembers taking the children on excursions to the cities down south and out on country. She has also visited Germany to sing with the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir and has many fond memories from this trip.
She is a highly respected elder in the Kaltukatjara community and is an almost-daily presence in the art centre. Her kindness, good humour, rich knowledge and artistic prowess make her an essential member of Tjarlirli and Kaltukatjara Art.