Background
Rene was born in 1958, in Ernabella, South Australia. She grew up in northern South Australia, and then moved to Docker River following her marriage to Richard Kulitja.
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Rene Kulitja
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Career
She works with a range of media, including paint, glass and ceramics. Her family are Pitjantjatjara people, and her Pitjantjatjara name is Wanuny. When Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was handed back to traditional owners in 1985, the couple moved to Muṯitjulu to work in tourism.
Rene became involved in arts and crafts at the women"s centre there shortly after, and was a founding director of Walkatjara Richard became the manager of Aṉangu Tours.
Community work Kulitja has held an important position within the Pitjantjatjara–Yankunytjatjara community for several years. In 2006, she became the chairperson of Maṟuku son
In October 2007, she was elected for a two-year term as a director on the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women"s Council. As a community advocate, Kulitja has campaigned to address the issues of petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities in central Australia.
Her own family has been deeply affected by the problem.
Kulitja works with a range of media, including paint, glass, ceramics and tjanpi (desert grass). She makes paintings, woven baskets, and glass and ceramic sculptures. Her work has been shown in many exhibitions across Australia.
lieutenant has also been exhibited in Belgium and Japan.
An example of her glass work is shown in the National Gallery of Australia. lieutenant is a coolamon made of glass (rather than the traditional wood), and has been exhibited in several Australian galleries.
Examples of her paintings are held in the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka. Kulitja is also known for making traditional-style jewellery using modern techniques and media.
Some of her jewellery work was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show when Winfrey visited Uluṟu in December 2010.
Membership
She has been a member of both the Muṯitjulu Community Council and the Board of Management of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.
