The Young Men’s Collective comprises 15 young men of Papunya aged between 16-30 and contributes an abundance of exciting energy to the Papunya Tjupi Arts Centre. Starting with a series of camp outs in 2018 focused on cultural maintenance, the invitation from the senior female artists to include and teach the young men in the practice of producing art was met with an enthusiastic response. The growing number of men eager to inform their new practice did not go unnoticed by the senior female directors and artists who decided that a culturally appropriate painting space should be established for the men.

Since the opening of the Men’s Art Space in 2019 the young male artists have quickly gathered enthusiastic attention, showcasing their story and work at the 2019 Desert Mob Symposium and Exhibition as well as art fairs in Adelaide and Sydney. They have also hosted two exhibitions at Papunya Tjupi’s onsite gallery. Lazarus Abbot, Keanu Nelson and Duncan Rowe, to name just a few, are among the cohort of emerging Artists that Papunya Tjupi keenly anticipates watching over the coming years.