Jean Baptiste Apuatimi, born in 1940, on Melville island which, along with ten other islands, forms the Tiwi Islands. Her husband Declan Apuatimi, a prominent artist whose carvings are held in the collections of the NGV and other major state museums, Jean counts as a source of inspiration, gifting her the confidence to develop her own practice. His death in 1985 led to Jean Baptiste to take up painting, in part as a way to carry on his legacy. In 1987 she held her first solo exhibition which led to increased critical attention on the art coming from the Tiwi islands.

Her work centres around the jilamara design, a coloured ochre pattern that was traditionally used as body art for ceremonial purposes. A major work of hers 'Jikapayinga', 2007, appeared in 'Know my Name' (2023) at the National Gallery of Australia, the landmark exhibition with an exclusive focus on Australian women artists.