Ngayulu Tulpa Tjuta munu Tjilkamata Tjuta Palyantjaku Mukuringanyi
(I Love Making Birds and Echidnas)
dulcie sharpe
1–18 october 2026
Tjulpa Tjuta, Dulcie Sharpe, 114-26, Ink on Indian Rag Paper, 77x56cm
Dulcie Sharpe with her painting Tjulpa Tjuta
Tjulpa Tjuta, Dulcie Sharpe, 114-26, Ink on Indian Rag Paper, 77x56cm
Dulcie Sharpe with her painting Tjulpa Tjuta
‘It is a good feeling doing my birds and echidnas. I like going home at the end of the day and telling everyone what I have been doing, tell them stories from my day.’
Dulcie Sharpe’s world is colourful and full of joy.
Working across soft sculpture, textiles and painting, Dulcie’s playful figurative portraits are each brimming with colour, pattern and personality, often portraying the two animals that she loves most: Tjulpu (birds) and Tjilkamata (Echidna).
Dulcie’s style translates seamlessly from fabric to paper. Reminiscent of her well renowned textile sculptures, Dulcie’s mark making is methodically layered and highly considered–the intricate patterns on her Tjulpu and Tjilkamata full of detail as if she were instead putting needle and thread to the paper.
This love of making is bolstered by being amongst her community at the Art Centre at Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, Mparntwe, where she has been instrumental in fostering a safe, communal space where everyone can gather, create, and keep their culture strong through art.
Ngayulu Tulpa Tjuta munu Tjilkamata Tjuta Palyantjaku Mukuringanyi (I Love Making Birds and Echidnas) is a colourful declaration of joy from Dulcie herself, her art imbued with the happiness she feels when she creates it–a happiness she inspires within us.
Please join us to celebrate the opening of Ngayulu Tulpa Tjuta munu Tjilkamata Tjuta Palyantjaku Mukuringanyi on Friday 2 October (6–8PM).
Dulcie Sharpe is an acclaimed artist working across textiles, sculpture and painting and living and working at Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, Mparntwe NT.
‘I like sewing birds and porcupine (echidna). I like birds the most. I sew after work, on the weekends and even in hospital. I think too much (a lot) about what sewing to do and what colours for each bird.
I love coming to the Art Centre and doing my birds and echidnas, seeing my family and seeing other people that come to the Art Centre because they know I am here everyday so they can find me here. It’s too boring sitting at home when all the kids have gone to school, so it’s good to come here, it is a good feeling doing my birds and echidnas. I like going home at the end of the day and telling everyone what I have been doing, tell them stories from my day.’
This love of making is bolstered by being amongst her community at the Art Centre at Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, Mparntwe, where she has been instrumental in fostering a safe, communal space where everyone can gather, create, and keep their culture strong through art.
I have been coming to the Learning Centre for 15 years. I did painting, pottery, printing and now I sew. We learnt everything here. Sewing and dying and print making. Now we have this really good building.
I was born at Hamilton Downs. My father and mother been leave me to stay with my sister Trudy. Then we came back to Jay Creek for school. Everyday after school we used to go swimming at Jay Creek. My grandmother taught me everything about culture; how to find honey ants, bush tucker, dancing, language. This made me strong.'
Ngayulu Tulpa Tjuta munu Tjilkamata Tjuta Palyantjaku Mukuringanyi is proudly presented by BSG Projects in association with Yarrenyty Arltere Artists.
