Dora Mbitjana b. 1965

Dora Mbitjana grew up in the significant and expansive Indigenous homelands region of Utopia in the Northern Territory, some 230km north-east of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Dora comes from both a family group and region that have produced some of the most influential Aboriginal artists since the dawn of the contemporary movement.

Dora is the youngest daughter of the great Aboriginal artist, Minnie Pwerle (dec.), whose paintings are now held in museums and exhibited in galleries worldwide. Dora’s mother Minnie, along with other artists like Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Gloria Petyarre, were trailblazers that aesthetically contemporised our understanding of Aboriginal art, while drawing deeply on their ancient cultural practices.

Dora and her famed sister, Betty Mbitjana, have also taken to painting Minnie’s signature style of Awelye, women's ceremony and women’s body paint designs. These are intricate patterns rooted in the ancient creation stories (Dreamings), traditionally made by mixing coloured ochre pigments and animal fats.

Dora is an emerging artist, and is also known to paint the Bush Plum Dreaming style that artists Utopia are well known for. Dora has four children, two daughters and two sons.