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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Kaylene Whiskey
Kaylene Whiskey in her studio, raising her arms in the air in celebration, next to a life size cutout of wonder woman and an artwork in progress
Dolly Flying to Iwantja, 2022 Kaylene Whiskey
1 Kaylene Whiskey in the studio at Iwantja Arts, Indulkana, 2022 Rhett Hammerton. Photographed on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. 2 Dolly Flying to Iwantja, 2022 Kaylene Whiskey. Made on the lands of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara peoples, South Australia Courtesy of the artist. © Kaylene Whiskey.

Kaylene Whiskey is a Yankunytjatjara artist from the tiny, remote Indigenous community of Indulkana on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia. Whiskey is known for her artworks that playfully combine elements from everyday life in her community and traditional Aṉangu cultural references with celebratory depictions of pop culture icons like Cher and Tina Turner. Dolly Parton is a frequent subject for Whiskey, with the Tennessean performer becoming interwoven into Whiskey’s unique visual universe in the same way that Dolly’s music has been absorbed into the artist’s life and work.

Kaylene’s painting Dolly Flying to Iwantja combines elements from everyday life in her community and traditional Anangu cultural references with celebratory depictions of pop culture icons. Dolly Parton is interwoven into Whiskey’s visual universe in the same way that Dolly’s music has been absorbed into the artist’s life.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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