Kay Baker Tunkin was born in the early 1950s at Palvwell, a birthing place near Ernabella.
Kay grew up at Ernabella mission where her father, noted artist Jimmy Bakerhad first moved to in the 1930s. When she was 12, Kay moved with her family back to her mother's country at Mimili (Everard Park) where her father worked around that area tending sheep, shearing and fencing. In those times, the indigenous families camped in the bush together away from, but in the vicinity of the main homestead. This brought together Jimmy's family and that of his cousin, Wipana Jimmy. This relationship was to have important influences on Kay's and her people's lives. When about 15, Kay moved back to Fregon with the family. Kay only stayed a short time at Fregon but nonetheless reinforced her relationship with Wipana.
After spending a short time at Yirara Lutheran College in Alice Springs, Kay moved back to Fregon where she got a job at the Fregon Arts Centre. It was there that she started to learn arts and crafts (primarily batik and basket weaving) from her aunt Wipana. Kay worked at the art centre for about 15 years during which time she met her husband and mothered 5 children including up and coming artists Patricia Baker Tunkin and Teresa Baker Tunkin.
In 1985, she moved with her father and others to the nascent settlement of Kanpi which, at the time, consisted only of a shed which doubled as a shop and two houses. Since that time, the family has played a key role in the Kanpi and Watarru townships including agitating for the establishment of Tjungu Palya art centre.
Today Kay is a Director of the art centre and spends her time between Kanpi and Alice Springs.
Kay's style is hard to define as she is adventurous in the palettes she chooses, the subjects she covers and the means by which she applies the paint. What we see is the benefit of an arts background which has combined a grounding in crafts such as basket weaving with that of painting.
