Kukula McDonald b. 1985

Biography
Language: Luritja
Region: Papunya, N.t.

Kukula McDonald is a Luritja artist from the renowned painting community of Papunya in the Northern Territory, some 240km west of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Kukula predominantly paints yellow- or red-tailed black cockatoos (iranti); although has been known to paint other native birds such as Sulphur-crested and pink cockatoos, and has also been known for her paintings of wheelchairs.

 

Kukula knows where to find “big mobs” of black cockatoos in the Central and Western Desert, and pays close attention to the details of the colour of the desert life, from fruits and flowers to stars and sunsets. In the background of her paintings, Kukula often depicts Uttumpatu, the rocky outcrops that form ridge lines of hills beside her community of Papunya. These landscape formations hold cultural significance for the people of Papunya.

 

Kukula has a knack for capturing the cheeky nature of the cockatoos with each one exhibiting an individual expression. Kukula likes to create stories about the relationships between the birds as she paints - it is an activity that she enjoys immensely, and this joy emanates from her canvases to the viewer. Kukula’s artwork has been widely exhibited and collected. Her artwork was recently used on the cover of a book titled 'Flock: First Nations Stories, Then and Now' by Ellen van Neerven. 

Shop Artworks
  • Pink-bums (Pink Cockatoos) in the big trees and eating seeds by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    41.5 x 60 cm
    16 3/8 x 23 5/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 620.00
  • Husband and baby red-bums waiting for wife to come back to the nest by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Husband and baby red-bums waiting for wife to come back to the nest by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    44.5 x 48 cm
    17 1/2 x 18 7/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Sold
  • Red-bums Chattering in a Blue Sky Day by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums Chattering in a Blue Sky Day by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    41.5 x 60 cm
    16 3/8 x 23 5/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Red-bums Chattering in a Blue Sky Day by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 595.00
  • Red-bums Flying Back to their Nests at Night by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums Flying Back to their Nests at Night by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    46 x 60.5 cm
    18 1/8 x 23 7/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Red-bums Flying Back to their Nests at Night by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 595.00
  • Red-bums flying in the blue starry sky by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums flying in the starry blue sky by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    55 x 41 cm
    21 5/8 x 16 1/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Sold
  • Red-bums on honeymoon by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums on honeymoon by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    30 x 30 cm
    11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Red-bums on honeymoon by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 250.00
  • Yellow-bums sitting near water on a hot day by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums sitting near water on a hot day by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    30 x 30 cm
    11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Red-bums sitting near water on a hot day by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 250.00
  • Red-bums Watching the Big Moon Come Up by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-bums Watching the Big Moon Come Up by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    22.5 x 35 cm
    8 7/8 x 13 3/4 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Sold
  • Kukula McDonald, White-bums being cheeky hanging upside down by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    White-bums being cheeky hanging upside down by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    30 x 30 cm
    11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, White-bums being cheeky hanging upside down by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 250.00
  • White-bums looking at the sea by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    White-bums looking at the sea by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    30 x 30 cm
    11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, White-bums looking at the sea by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 250.00
  • Yellow-bums looking for seeds on those spiky trees by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    Kukula McDonald
    Yellow-bums looking for seeds on those spiky trees by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    26 x 39 cm
    10 1/4 x 15 3/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Yellow-bums looking for seeds on those spiky trees by Kukula McDonald, 2025
    $ 275.00
  • Red-bums Having A Drink Then Flying Home by Kukula McDonald, 2024, acrylic on linen, 60 x 90 cm
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos Flying West by Kukula McDonald, 2024
    60 x 90 cm
    23 5/8 x 35 3/8 inches
    acrylic on linen
    Kukula McDonald, Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos Flying West by Kukula McDonald, 2024
    $ 1,400.00
  • Yellow-bum Chewing on His Grevillea Flower by Kukula McDonald, 2024, acrylic on linen, 30 x 30 cm
    Kukula McDonald
    Yellow-bum Chewing On His Grevillea Flower by Kukula McDonald, 2024
    30 x 30 cm
    11 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches
    acrylic on Belgian linen
    Kukula McDonald, Yellow-bum Chewing On His Grevillea Flower by Kukula McDonald, 2024
    $ 250.00
  • Red-tailed Black Cockatoos in the Rain by Kukula McDonald
    Kukula McDonald
    Red-tailed Black Cockatoos in the Rain by Kukula McDonald, 2023
    55 x 40.5 cm
    21 5/8 x 16 inches
    acrylic on Belgian linen
    Sold
Enquire

Send me more information on Kukula McDonald

Please fill in the fields marked with an asterisk
By submitting this form you will be added to our mailing list.
Terms and conditions