Kaylene Whiskey


Kaylene Whiskey is a contemporary Aboriginal Australian artist born 26 June 1976. She won the 2018 Sir John Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and was a finalist for the [List of Archibald Prize List of Archibald Prize 2020 finalists|2020 finalists|2020 Archibald Prize]. Her work is exhibited in many important Australian galleries.
Whiskey is a Pitjantjatjara woman from Indulkana, a remote Aboriginal community in South Australia, and is the granddaughter of Whiskey Tjukangku. Like her grandfather, she paints with Iwantja Arts.

Life and painting

Whiskey was born and raised in the small community of Indulkana in the APY Lands to a family very involved in the arts, and she grew up around the art centre. As she grew older, she said that painting there was "a good way to keep busy and spend time with my family".
She has developed a unique style which includes linking the traditional culture of her community's Elders with pop culture references in bright colours. Her favourite musicians Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and Cher are often featured in her work. Whiskey says:
Whiskey refers to these idols as her kungkas, which means "woman", most often "young woman", in the Yankunytjatjara language. She has said:

Recognition and awards

Exhibitions

Publications

In 2025 Whiskey published The art of Kaylene Whiskey: do you believe in love? which was edited by curator Natalie King alongside Iwantja Arts. It includes contributions from Taika Waititi, Jazz Money and Zoé Whitley.

Collections