George Tjungurrayi
- Skin Name:Tjungurrayi
- Language:Pintupi
- Region:Kiwirrkurra, Western Desert
- Dreaming:Tingari Dreaming
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Biography
George Tjungurrayi was born in approximately 1947 near Kiwirrkurra in the Gibson Desert, in Western Australia. His nickname is “Hairbrush” and stems from his amazing thick locks of hair. I, (Sabine Haider, Director Central Art) have always been fascinated with Western Desert Art, in particular, George Tjungurrayi. I am intrigued with the linear patterns and the ancient Dreamings behind those bold lines. George Tjungurrayi is really one of a kind; his strong and powerful physical presence reminds me of a warrior. He has a great sense of humour but is very serious about his work. I adore his hair, totally out of control! We often laugh because I say “George, as well as being a well known artist, your hair is also famous”
George commenced painting in 1976 for Papunya Tula Artists shortly after the first wave of Western Desert art had burst onto the world art scene. His brother Willy Tjungurrayi and older sisters Nancy and Naata Nungurrayi are also very well known Papunya Tula Artists. His childhood and early manhood were spent in the bush around the Gibson Desert, leading a traditional lifestyle away from the Western influences of the world until curiosity got the better of him and he stumbled into the Warlpiri settlement of Yuendumu. In the late 1960’s he moved to the Aboriginal settlement of Papunya in Central Australia. His traditional country spans across traditional sites around Wala Wala, Kiwirrkurra, Lake Mackay, Kulkuta Karku, Ngaluwinyamana, and Kilpinya to the north west of Kintore across the Western Australian border. He is a traditional Pintupi man.
His paintings depict the Tingari Cycle and refer to his ancestral country, the stories and various sacred sites surrounding the area such as Wala, Kiwirrkurra, Lake Mackay, Kulkuta, Karku, Ngaluwinyamana and Kilpinya. His homeland is a clay-pan type environment where water soakages are used by travelling men and the small flesh Mungilypa shrub grows profusely. His artworks are in keeping with typical Western Desert imagery bound by subtle hues of reds, oranges, whites and brown however his art style has evolved to now include brighter colour tones which dominate his canvases.
Central Art has several of his artworks titled “Tingari Cycle” and “Mamultjulkunga”. The artworks refer to the significant sites of George’s traditional homelands and ancestral country in Central Australia. They depict the Tingari Cycle which is a group of ancestral spirit beings who travelled around creating the land forms, performing ceremonies and instilling the law and culture to the Pintupi people. The lines and concentric circles within the artworks depict the map which recounts these travels.
In 1997 George developed a new expression of the Tingari, the Pintupi’s creation figures, this breakthrough led him to his first solo exhibition and was the beginning of him becoming one of Australia’s most collectable Indigenous artists. He has since been voted “The Most Collectable Artists” by the Australian Art Collector magazine and has his artworks in multiple collections worldwide. He has held seven solo exhibitions and been in countless others worldwide. In 2006 one of his paintings was highly commended for the 34th Alice Prize, and in 2010 and 2011 he was highly commended for his entry into the annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and he works have been selected entrants on multiple occasions. This is Australia’s most prestigious art award and his repeated entries only further confirm not only his talent but collectability.
George spends the majority of his time with his wife, Nanupu Nangala and family in his community in Kintore which is approximately 700kms west of Alice Springs. He has five children and a large extended family. He is highly collectable and certainly worth considering as an investment piece particularly if you appreciate Western Desert art.
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Bibliography
- Birnberg, M. & Kreczmanski, J.B. (2004) Aboriginal Artists Dictionary of Biographies. Central Desert, Western Desert & Kimberley Region. J.B. Publishing Australia. Marleston, South Australia.
- Johnson, V. (1994) Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert. A Biographical Dictionary. Craftsman House, Roseville East, New South Wales.
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Collections
- National Gallery of Australia.
- National Gallery of Victoria.
- Art Gallery of South Australia.
- Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
- Robert Holmes a Court Collection.
- Groninger Museum (The Netherlands).
- Araluen Arts Centre.
- Artbank.
- University of Virginia (USA).
- Museum of Contemporary Art.
- Griffith University Art Collection.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- Musee des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanien (France).
- Hood Museum of Art (USA).
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Exhibitions
- 2013 “George Tjungurrayi, Ronnie Tjampitjimpa & Warlimpirrgna Tjapaltjarri”, ReDot Gallery, Singapore.
- 2013, “Desert Country”, Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier.
- 2013, “Crossing Cultures”, The Owen and Wagner Collection of Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art”, Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio, USA.
- 2013, “Painting Now – Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2013, “Language of the Land”, Paul Johnstone Gallery, Darwin.
- 2012, “Desert Country”, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle.
- 2012, “Ancestral Modern”, Australian Aboriginal Art, The Kaplan and Levi Collection, Seattle Art Museum, Washington, USA.
- 2012, “Classic Works from Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2012, “Interconnected”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2012, “Desert Country”, University of Queensland, Brisbane.
- 2012, 29th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2012, “Visual Rhythm”, Cross Cultural Exchange, Darwin.
- 2012, “Desert Mob 2012”, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2012, “Crossing Cultures”, The Owen and Wagner Collection of Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, USA.
- 2012, “PTA 40th Anniversary”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2012, “Unique Perspectives – Papunya Tula Artists and the Alice Springs Community”, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2012, “Community IV – Celebrating 40 years of Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2011, “Art Karlsruhe 2011”, Karlesruhe, Germany.
- 2011, “Revival in Small”, Arkelch, Freiburg, Germany.
- 2011, “40 years of Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2011, “Desert Country”, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Crawley.
- 2011, “Aboriginal Art 2011”, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2011, “Pintupi Art 2011”, A.P. Bond Gallery, Adelaide.
- 2011, 28th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2011, “Desert Country”, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Mornington.
- 2011, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin.
- 2011, “Desert Mob 2011”, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2011, “Pintupi Trials 2011”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2011, “Australia in Two Colours”, Artkelch Collectors Lounge, Schordorf, Germany.
- 2011, “Desert Country”, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.
- 2010, “Tradition to Modernity”, Central Art, Alice Springs & Tasmania.
- 2010, “Museum III”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2010, “PTA NOW”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2010, “Tradition & Innovation”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2010, “Aboriginal Art 2010”, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2010, “Papunya Tula Artists – Art of the Western Desert”, Harvey Art Projects, Idaho, USA.
- 2010, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin.
- 2010, 27th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2010, The Desert Mob Art Show, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2010, “Ngurra Kutju Ngurrara – Belonging To One Country”, ReDot Gallery Singpore.
- 2010, “Desert Country”, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
- 2010, “Recent Paintings”, Chapman Gallery, Canberra.
- 2010, “Community”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2009, “Pintupi 2009”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2009, “Pro-community – Papunya Tula Artists”, Berlin, Frankfurt & Freiburg, Germany.
- 2009, “Community – The Heart of Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2009, “Nganampatju Kanpatja Winki. Nganampatju Yara Winki – All Our Paintings. All Our Stories”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2009, “Papunya Tula Classics”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2009, “Papunya 2009, Senior Pintupi Artists”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2009, “Pro-community - Papunya Tula Artists”, Kunstwerk, Ebergingen-Nussdorf, Germany.
- 2009, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin.
- 2009, 26th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2009, “Painting the Country”, Cross Cultural Exchange, Darwin.
- 2009, TogArt Contemporary Art Award, Darwin.
- 2009, “Nganana Tjungurringarnyi Tjukurrpa Nintintjaktjka – We Are Here Sharing Our Dreaming”, 80 Washington Square East Galleries, New York, USA.
- 2008, “David Larwill and the Western Desert Artists”, Stephan Wiess Studio, New York, USA.
- 2008, TogArt Contemporary Art Award”, Darwin.
- 2008, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair”, Convention Centre, Darwin.
- 2008, “Aboriginal Art 2008”, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2008, The Desert Mob Art Show, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2008, “20 years of Papunya Tula Artists”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2008, Pintupi Art 2008”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2008, “Kintore to Kiwirrkurra”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2007, “Papunya Tula 2007”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2007, Wynne Landscape Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
- 2007, “Group Show”, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane.
- 2007, “Big Paintings”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2007, “Aboriginal Art 2007”, Scott Livesey Galleries,Melbourne.
- 2007, 24th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2007, “Recent Paintings 2007”, Cross Cultural Exchange, Darwin.
- 2007, “Pintupi Art 2007”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2007, “Pintupi – Mixed Exhibition”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2006, “Across the Board”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2006, “Aborinal Art 2006”, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2006, 34th Alice Prize”, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2006, “PTA”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2006, “Pintupi”, Hamiltons Gallery, London, UK.
- 2006, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
- 2006, “PapunyaTula Artists – Recent Paintings”, Harriet Place Darwin.
- 2006, The Desert Mob Art Show, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2006, “Pintupi Art 2006”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2006, “Well Represented”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2006, “A Particular Collection”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2006, “Pintupi Dreamtime”, Red Dot Gallery, Singapore.
- 2006, “Yawulyurru Kapalilu PAlyara Nintipayi”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2005, “Papunya Tula Artists”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2005, Wynne Landscpae Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
- 2005, “Museum II”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2005, Aboriginal Art 2005”, Scott Livesey Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2005, “Pintupi Art 2005”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2005, “New Work for a New Space”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2005, “Pintupi Artists”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2005, “New Works from the Western Desert”, Indigenart, Perth.
- 2004, “Pintupi Art 2004”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2004, “Talking About Abstraction”, University of New South Wales – College of Fine Arts, Sydney.
- 2004, “Papunya Tula Artists 2004”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2004, “All About Papunya”, Chapman Gallery, Canberra.
- 2004, “Talking About Abstraction”, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, University of New South Wales – College of Fine Arts, Sydney.
- 2004, “The Inner and The Outer”, Stadtgalerie Bamberg, Vila Dessuaerm, Bamberg, Germany.
- 2004, “Aboriginal Art 2004”, Scott Livesey Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2004, “Ma Yungu/Pass It On”, Framed Gallery, Darwin.
- 2004, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
- 2004, “Looking Closely at Country”, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, University of New South Wales – College of Fine Arts, Sydney”.
- 2004, Pintupi Artists”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2004, “Mythology & Reality”, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne.
- 2003, “Paintings from Mamultjukulnga and Kirrimalunya” Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2003, Pintupi Art 2003”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2003, “Aboriginal Art 2003”, Scott Livesey Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2003, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane.
- 2003, 20th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition, Darwin.
- 2003, “Masterpieces From the Western Desert”, Gavin Graham Gallery, London, UK.
- 2003, “Pintupi Artists”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2002, “Aboriginal Art 2002”, Scott Livesey Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2002, “Next Generation – Aboriginal Art 2002”, Art House Gallery, Sydney.
- 2002, “Paintings from our Country”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2002, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2002, “Pintupi Artists”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2002, “Meridan – Focus on Contemporary Australian Art”, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.
- 2002, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
- 2001: “Pintupi Exhibition”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs
- 2001, AMG Gallery, Paris, France.
- 2001, Palm Beach Fair, Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
- 2001, “Papunya Tula 2001”, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne.
- 2001, “Art of the Pintupi”, Tony Bond Aboriginal Art Dealer, Adelaide.
- 2001, “Kintore, Kiwirrkurra”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 2001, “Art Aborigene”, Musee Olympic, Lausanne, France.
- 2001, “Dreamtime – Contemporary Aboriginal Art”, Essl Collection, Vienna, Austria.
- 2001, “Museum”, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 2001, “In Concert”, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra.
- 2001, “31st Alice Prize”, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 2001, “Aborigena”, Palazoo Bricherasio, Turin, Italy.
- 2000, “Lines”, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane.
- 2000, “Aboriginal Art 2000”, Scott Livesey Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2000, “Aborignial Art Select Works”, Kozminsky Gallery and Fine Art Dealer, Melbourne.
- 2000, “Aboriginal Art”, Aboriginal Art Gallery Bahr, Speyer, Germany.
- 2000, “Papunya Tula Genesis and Genuis”, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
- 2000, “Pintupi Men”, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 2000, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
- 1999, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 1999, The Desert Mob Art Show”, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 1999, “New Horizons 2000”, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 1998, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 1998, “Culture Store” Art Gallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- 1998, The Desert Art Mob Show, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 1997, Utopia Gallery, Sydney.
- 1997, 'Dream power' Adelaide.
- 1997, Papunya Tula ARtistss, Alice Springs.
- 1997, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 1996, Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.
- 1996, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs – Fringe Festival Adelaide.
- 1996, Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
- 1996, CAAACE, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 1996, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
- 1996, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
- 1996, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 1995, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 1995, Utopia Art, Sydney.
- 1995, Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory.
- 1995, Groninger Museum, The Netherlands.
- 1995, Chapman Gallery, Canberra.
- 1995, Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.
- 1994, Gallerie Australis, Adelaide.
- 1994, Dreamtime Gallery, Broadbeach.
- 1993, Chapman Gallery, Canberra.
- 1992, Dreamtime Gallery, Broadbeach.
- 1990, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
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Awards
- 2011, Highly Commended, 28th annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Darwin.
- 2010, Highly Commended, 27th annual National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Darwin.
- 2006, Highly Commended, 34th Alice Prize, Alice Springs.
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