Walala Tjapaltjarri

Walala Tjapaltjarri (c. 1965–1975) and his family shot to fame in 1984 when they left their nomadic desert life and joined family in the community of Kiwirrkura in Western Australia. Dubbed 'The Lost Tribe' and the 'Pintupi Nine' the story of the family made international headlines with many curious and sometimes invasive news stories published about the family who had been living a traditional nomadic lifestyle on their Country. The family originally settled at Kiwirrkura where Tjapaltjarri began painting in 1997 encouraged by his older brother Warlimpirrnga, who is also an internationally recognised artist. Tjapaltjarri's early works focused on traditional Tingari designs that were traditionally used for ground and body painting. Over time he developed his own style as he abstracted Pintupi designs which focused on the topographic features and Dreaming stories of his Country. Tjapaltjarri's works have been shown in numerous group exhibitions in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and in solo shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Switzerland. Tjapaltjarri currently lives and works in Alice Springs.