Long Tom Tjapanangka

Long Tom Tjapanangka was a distinguished Pintupi artist born around 1930 in the Western Desert region of Central Australia. Before dedicating himself to art, he worked as a stockman and police tracker, roles that deeply connected him to the land and shaped his understanding of country—an influence that is evident throughout his artistic practice.

He began painting in the early 1990s at the Ikuntji Women’s Centre in Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory. His early works were created alongside his first wife, Marlee Napurrula, and later with his second wife, renowned artist Mitjili Napurrula. Tjapanangka’s paintings often reflect the distinctive topography of his homeland, featuring tali (sandhills), puli (rocks), and sacred ancestral sites.

His approach to painting was marked by thick, textured applications of paint and a strong visual rhythm, setting his work apart from that of other Papunya Tula artists. The unique density and patterning in his compositions convey a visceral connection to the landscape and the Dreaming stories embedded within it.

Long Tom’s works have been widely exhibited and are held in major national collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

His art continues to be celebrated for its powerful expression of place, culture, and memory—offering a deeply personal perspective on the Western Desert tradition.