Pantjiti Lionel (c1930-2017)

Pantjiti Lionel was born at an important sacred place, her father's ngura (country), east of Kanpa in South Australia. Her mother was a Ngaatatjara (WA) woman. Pantjiti moved with her family to the Presbyterian Mission at Pukatja (Ernabella, SA) when she was a little girl. After school she would go to the craft-room, which was a small shed then. She spun wool and knitted jumpers, and made floor rugs with colourful patterns. During that time everyone lived in wiltja (shelters) made of tjanpi (grass), and shifted camp regularly around the mission. Rations were obtained from Alice Springs, Areyonga and Haast's Bluff, and after doing work experience in the hospital, Pantjiti cooked large meals in the mission kitchen using the rations.

Pantjiti discovered basketry in 1996 through her well-known sister Niningka Lewis, and when Tjanpi gave a workshop at Ernaeblla in 2000. Niningka was the artist responsible for many of the first fibre sculptures and for introducing the use of raffia on the AP Lands. Like Niningka, Pantjiti is an innovative fibre artist, producing many unusual figures and animals. These works have featured in numerous exhibitions both with Tjanpi and with Ernabella Arts.