Teresa Baker Biography
LANGUAGE: PITJANTJATJARA
REGION: KANPI, S.A. Teresa Baker was born in 1977 in Alice Springs and grew up just over the border in a South Australian community called Kanpi. Teresa began painting in 2005 and has learnt her craft from the inestimable Jimmy Baker, her grandfather. Her mother Kay Baker is also a highly regarded and collectable artist. Jimmy Baker, Teresa’s grandfather, taught Teresa about the associated stories/Dreamings (Tjukurrpa) for her country, which she now depicts in her paintings. Teresa is continuing the tradition by teaching her daughters, Clarise and Sophia, the stories and painting technique. Clarise is now a highly successful emerging artist and Sophia is a quickly rising star. Teresa’s style is rich in colour and story/Tjukurrpa, defining aspects of her physical and spiritual country. Teresa paints the story of Minma Malilu, a spiritual ancestor, who travelled from the west following her two daughters who ran away with a man. When she found them she dug a cave where she then lived, so she could keep watch over them. Teresa is a highly recognised and outstanding artist imbuing traditional story onto the canvas while achieving a very contemporary aesthetic. Teresa has been a finalist in the AGNSW Wynne Prize and her work is exhibited Internationally and nationally. Teresa’s paintings have been collected by major Public and private collectors, institutions and Galleries.
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