George Tjungurrayi (b. c. 1943-1947), of the Pintupi language group was born in near Kiwirrkura in a remote part of the Gibson Desert, Western Australia. Tjungurrayi is a custodian of important mythological occurrences in his country. Since he began painting in the late 1970s-early 1980s Tjungurrayi has become one of the masters of contemporary Pintupi art. A highly respected senior Papunya Tula artist, he had numerous solo and group exhibitions including Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2000 and the 21st Biennial of Sydney 2020. His dazzling, huge paintings of the Tingari Cycle are represented in several Australian and international collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Musee des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanien (France), Groninger Museum (The Netherlands) and Hood Museum of Art (USA).
Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2020. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2021
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Chris Chapman explains how Matthys Gerber bridges the gap between abstraction and portraiture.
Pat Corrigan's generous gift of 100 photographic portraits by Greg Weight.
