Willy Tjungarrayi

Willy Tjungurrayi (c.1932-2018), a preeminent figure in Western Desert art, stood as one of the most coveted painters, recognized for his mastery in portraying the sacred and secret Tingari cycle. As a senior Pintupi man, Willy held the ancestral and communal privilege to depict these profound Dreaming stories and earned acclaim as one of the contemporary Aboriginal painting's great colorists.

Born around 1932 in Patjantja, southwest of Lake Mackay in the Northern Territory, Willy Tjungurrayi migrated to Haast's Bluff in 1956 alongside other Pintupi people. In 1959, due to water supply issues, he relocated to Papunya with the majority of Aboriginal residents. It was in 1976 that Willy commenced his artistic journey with Papunya Tula Artists, becoming an instrumental part of the burgeoning movement.

By the 1980s, Willy Tjungurrayi had ascended to the status of a senior Pintupi painter, actively participating in the return to Pintupi homelands. Residing in Walungurru (Kintore) until 2003, he later divided his time between Alice Springs and Walungurru.

Willy's artistic repertoire primarily focused on the Tingari Dreaming song cycle and the landscapes surrounding Haast's Bluff, Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), and Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald). A distinctive feature of his art involves the depiction of the travels and resting places of the Tingari Men through dotted Roundels, connected by parallel lines and adorned with vibrant primary and mixed colors. This intricate imagery symbolized the rhythmic repetition of the Tjukurpa, encapsulating the essence of the Creation era or Dreaming.

In more recent works, Willy Tjungurrayi's paintings shifted to showcase hundreds of endless wavy lines in ochre monochrome, creating a mesmerizing shimmer across the canvas against a pale background. These pieces serve as a visual witness to the sand hills and the fierce hailstorm that, according to Dreamtime lore, brought about the demise of the ancestral Tingari Men.

Willy Tjungurrayi's contributions to Indigenous art made his work highly sought after, finding a place in numerous major private and public collections.

Discover contemporary artworks by Willy Tjungarrayi, browse recent artworks and buy online. Categories: contemporary australian artists. Artistic domains: Painting. Artist represented by Australian Contemporary Art. Account type: Artist , member since 2020 (Country of origin Australia). Buy Willy Tjungarrayi's latest works on Artmajeur: Discover great art by contemporary artist Willy Tjungarrayi. Browse artworks, buy original art or high end prints.

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