Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri was born circa 1958 east of Kirwirrkurra, Western Australia. He had a nomadic childhood with eight others of his extended family group including his brothers Walala and Thomas Tjapaltjarri who are also artists.
In late 1984 his family made international news when they moved back to Kirwirrkurra and had first contact with Europeans. They were described as ‘the last nomads’ as they had been living a traditional life unchanged from their ancestors for thousands of years up until making contact with the west. He is considered to be one of the last Pintupi (his language group) to make contact with modern Australia.
He began painting in 1987 for the Papunya Tula artists, just three years after emerging from his desert life around Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay).
His works depict the Tingari cycle stories recounting the mythological ancestors and the sacred site surrounding his sacred land in the Western Desert. His paintings are abstract in design yet are bold and striking whilst remaining traditional.
His work is held in several major public collections across Australia, such as in the National Gallery in Canberra, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the National Gallery of Victoria. He also has work in galleries overseas, such as the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, and the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia.
