Collection: Walala Tjapaltjarri

Since commencing his artistic journey in 1997, Walala Tjapaltjarri has garnered global acclaim, participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His artworks grace private and public collections in Australia, Europe, and the U.S.A. Introduced to painting by his esteemed brother, Warlimpirrnga, also a renowned artist, Walala initially delved into the classical Tingari style, traditionally used for body painting, ground art, and adorning traditional artifacts.

Within a few months, however, Walala transformed his approach, developing an innovative style. He abstracted classical Pintupi designs, constructing a vividly graphic language to convey his connection to his homeland and ceremonial sites. The prominent rectangles in his paintings serve as both a physical and spiritual map, establishing Walala as a skilled draftsman of his ancestral territory.

In late 1984, Walala and fellow members of the Pintupi Tribe emerged from the remote Gibson Desert in Western Australia, making their first contact with European society. Dubbed 'The Lost Tribe,' they made international headlines, having lived a traditional, nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle until that moment. Walala's intimate knowledge of the land, its flora, fauna, and waterholes, honed over thousands of years, became the inspiration for his art. His paintings vividly depict the sacred landscape, featuring significant sites such as Wilkinkarra, Maruwa, Tarrku, Njami, and Yarrawangu.