This artist was born in the beginning of the 1960's in Marua to the east of Kiwirrkurra in the Gibson Desert. In 1984, Walala and some relatives of the Pintupi Tribe left the desert and decided to get in contact for the first time with Western civilization.
He and his family were called "The Lost Tribe";they were living the traditional and nomadic way of a hunter-gatherer society. Because they knew the land perfectly they survived as their ancestors had for many years.In his paintings Walala describes his environment and some sacred sites important for him
It was Walala's brother, Warlimpirrnga, also an internationally well known artist who introduced him to painting. Walala's first artworks were done in the classic Tingari style.The rectangles take an important part in his creations and create both a physical and spiritual map.
He depicts the Tingari Cycle, a series of sacred and secret mythological song cycles. Walala also associate them with many of his dreaming sites - which are Wilkinkarra,Maruwa, Tarrku, Njami and Yarrawangu, and several others.This artist is now famous for his paintings and has participated to several exhibitions all around the world.His work is represented in public and private collections worldwide.
Individual Exhibitions: 1998 - Tingari - Men's Business, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney, NSW; Walala Tjapaltjarri Paintings, Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC; Tingari Cycle, an exhibition of works by Walala Tjapaltjarri, Fire-Works Gallery, Brisbane, QLD. Group Exhibitions:2005 - Smoke: Campfire Group and other commissioned works, Fire-Works Gallery, Brisbane.2004-Papunya: Painters of the Western Desert, Addison Galleries, NSW;Peintres Pintupi, Galerie DAD, Mantes-la Jolie, France.2001-The Art of Place Exhibition, Australian Heritage Commission, National Tour 2000-Walala Tjapaltjarri and Dr.George Tjapaltjarri, Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW;Songlines:Walala Tjapaltjarri and Dorothy Napangardi, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London England; My Country-Journeys of our Ancestors Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Cairns, QLD;Lines, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD;Landmarks Exhibition, Dar Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Queensland;Fifth National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, Australian Heritage Commission, Canberra;17th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, N.T; Melbourne ArtFair 2000, Melbourne, Australia.1999 - Tingari Cycle, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD; Spirit Country The California Palace of the Legion of Honour, San Francisco, USA; Recent Works by Walala Tjapaltjarri and Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London;Painting the Desert Alliance Francaise de Canberra and the French Embassy, Canberra, ACT;16th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory,Darwin, NT 1998 - Tingari-My Dreaming, Japingka Gallery, Frematle, WA; 15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT, 1997 - 14th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Aaward, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT