Joy Turner

Joy Turner is the Traditional Owner for Engawala Community. Born in 1953, not far away at Bushy Park on the Plenty Highway, she has always lived in Engawala. Joy has been creating art since she was a young woman. There are other artists in her family including her mother, who was her biggest influence, from whom she Iearnt how to paint.

When starting her art career Joy did wood carving of animals and clapping sticks. Then she progressed on to painting acrylic on canvas, metal and ceramics.

After studying at Batchelor Institute, where she completed a Certificate 3 in Visual Arts, Joy gained new skills and art techniques. She now makes native seed jewellery, wood carving of little birds, lizards and coolamon. She also loves fabric painting. 

Joy regularly paints at the Engawala Art Centre where many of her artworks are for sale, she also sells at Northern Territory markets and exhibitions and through several local retail outlets. Joy’s artworks are also found on the Engawala Art Centre website and one of her paintings is featured on a billboard outside the Engawala Art Centre.

Joy was one of 11 Engawala Artists who wrote and illustrated a children's book titled "Tim's Journey Back In Time" written in English and Eastern Anmatjere about the 8 million year old Mega Fauna fossils found at Alcoota near Engawala Community.