Joronn Sitje is particularly known for his exotic pictures from Africa in the 1930s. Her extraordinary range of motifs and strong colors place her in a special position within Norwegian painting.

Joronn Sitje often worked based on intuition and emotional involvement. Her production was large and variable, and she was a very diligent exhibitor both collectively and at several solo exhibitions.

In a number of paintings and drawings from this period, Joronn Sitje interpreted African nature and folk life. In particular, we find in the portraits of the local population a color attitude and brushwork that may remind us of Emil Nolde's study heads. With this new and exotic aspect of her art, she distinguished herself as an original artist, and the pictures were quickly sold at the many solo exhibitions she had in the 1930s. Eventually she was also represented at the National Gallery with African Woman's Head (1930), Merupike (1930), Nandipiker (1932) and Wakikuyu Child (1934).