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Walala Tjapaltjarri
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| Born |
Walala Tjapangati
early 1970s[2] Marruwa, Western Australia
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| Occupation | Painter |
| Years active | late 1980s – present |
| Organization | Papunya Tula |
| Style | Western Desert art |
| Spouse | Brigitte Napangardi |
| Children | Clarissa (born 1991) Josiah (born 1996) |
| Parents | Lanti, or "Joshua" (father) Watjunka Nangala (mother) |
| Relatives | Thomas Tjapangati Yalti Napangati Yukultji Napangati Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri Topsy Napaltjarri Takariya Napaltjarri |
Walala Tjapaltjarri (born Walala Tjapangati) is an Australian Aboriginal artist.
Early life
Tjapaltjarri was born in the late 1960s or early 1970s. He was born at Marua, near Lake Mackay. He grew up living a nomadic, traditional way of life in the desert. His family had never come into contact with modern, Euro-Australian society. He had never seen a white person, and his family always thought the aeroplanes they saw flying overhead were ghosts or spirits.[3] Before Tjapaltjarri was born, his father Lanti had lived for a short time at the mission in Balgo. But he had run away after getting into trouble for stealing food. It was his decision to stay in the desert, and kept his family far away from the towns.[4] Tjapaltjarri's mother was named Watjunka, and he was Watjunka's only child. He also had two other mothers, Papunya and Nanu, who were his father's secondary wives (and his mother's sisters). His father and Watjunka both died when he was young. The family finally came into contact with outsiders in October 1984, and were settled at Kiwirrkurra. He and his family became known as the last Aborigines living a traditional nomadic way of life in Australia.[4]
He is now married with two children,[4] and lives between Kiwirrkura, Alice Springs, and Yuendumu, where his wife is from.[3][5] He paints at Hoppy's Camp, outside Alice Springs.[6]
Painting
Tjapaltjarri began painting in December 1987, a few years after settling at Kiwirrkurra.[1] He was introduced to painting by his cousin Warlimpirrnga.[5] He taught Tjapaltjarri about using paints and canvas. Tjapaltjarri joined the Papunya Tula artists, and he, Thomas, and Warlimpirrnga eventually gained fame internationally as the Tjapaltjarri Brothers.[1] Although he normally paints using Tjapaltjarri as a surname, Tjapaltjarri's skin name is Tjapangati. He now works on paper with a mixture of paint and traditional pigments.
His paintings depict scenes from the Tingari cycle (sacred and secret songs about the ancestors of the Pintupi).[7] He uses only four colours at most, sticking to earthy, ochre colours to reflect the desert landscape. The places he depicts in his paintings are part of his traditional country,[5] including Marruwa, Mintarnpi, Wanapatangu, Mina Mina, Naami, Yarrawangu and Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay). These were places where the ancestors stopped for ceremonies when travelling across the country.[3]
Tjapaltjarri uses acrylic paintings on canvas. His early work was in the flowing "dot" style of painting typical of the Papunya Tula artists. His style became different during the late 1990s, and began to paint rigid rectangles, replacing dotted lines with thick, solid lines.[3]
His first exhibition was in 1997, for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in Darwin. Most of his work is shown in exhibitions alongside the works of other Aboriginal artists. He has paintings in permanent collections in Australia, Europe and the United States. Tjapaltjarri paints the most out of the three Tjapaltjarri brothers. When painting regularly, he earns up to AU$2000 a day.[6] His paintings often sell for many thousands of dollars.[8]
References
- Johnson, Vivien (2008). Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists. Alice Springs: IAD Press. pp. 250, 252.
- The exact date is not known, and different sources make very different guesses. Some of the years given by sources are 1969, 1972 and 1973.[1]
- "Walala Tjapaltjarri". Red Desert Gallery. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Toohey, Paul (4 May 2004). "The Last Nomads" (PDF). The Bulletin. pp. 28–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- "Biography - Walala Tjapaltjarri". Aboriginal Art Online. Aboriginal Art Online Pty Ltd. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Adlam, Nigel (3 February 2007). "Lost tribe happy in modern world". Herald Sun. Herald & Weekly Times Pty Ltd.
- Bett Gallery (27 May 2008). "Auckland exhibition of leading Aboriginal Art". Scoop News. Scoop Media. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Adlam, Nigel (23 June 2009). "Swine flu fears sweep through communities". Northern Territory News. Darwin: News Limited.
Notable Sold Lots
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soldOct. 11, 2022Walala Tjapaltjarri - Tingari Cycle, 2002
Est: $6,000 - $9,000Sold:$5,500Walala Tjapaltjarri, brother of well-known painters Warlimpirrnga and Thomas Tjapaltjarri, was born in the Gibson Desert east of Kiwirrkurra in the early 1960s. In 1990, Walala watched in admiration and respect as his brother Warlimpirrnga began to paint. Shortly thereafter, he took to painting with the assuredness of a young man firmly grounded in his culture and intimately familiar with the sites he depicted. His subject from the outset was that of the Tingari cycle associated with a number of related sites in his country including Marua, Minatarnpi, and Mina Mina in the Gibson Desert of Western Australia. Having developed his style during the early 1990s, Walala produced a work on canvas in 1997 that was unlike anything he had done before. Strongly gestural and boldly graphic, it featured roundels, rectangles,and abutting lines set against a stark monochrome black background. This distinctive and individual style laid the foundation for the remarkable body of work that he has completed since that time. His first solo shows were held with Gallery Gondwana in Alice Springs, which was the gallery that encouraged and first presented his art. Following his 1998 solo exhibition at Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery in Sydney, SMH art critic John McDonald enthusiastically endorsed his work. The Tingari Cycle is a secret song cycle sacred to initiated men. The Tingari are Dreamtime Beings who travelled across the landscape performing ceremonies to create and shape the country associated with Dreaming sites.
Cooee Art -
soldNov. 18, 2025WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, born 1970, Tingari, 2004, steel and bronze patina, 50h x 33.5w x 18d cm, inscribed on base: FW8568, PROVENANCE, Fireworks Gallery, Qld Cat No. FW8568, Private collection, Germany, thence by descen...
Est: $3,000 - $4,000Sold:$5,000WALALA TJAPALTJARRI born 1970 Tingari, 2004 steel and bronze patina 50h x 33.5w x 18d cm inscribed on base: FW8568 PROVENANCE Fireworks Gallery, Qld Cat No. FW8568 Private collection, Germany thence by descent Private collection, NSW accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Fireworks Gallery EXHIBITED New Sculpture, Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Paddington, NSW, November 2004 Repetition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, Qld, 26 February – 24 March 2005 Smoke, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS, June – July 2005 Two Way: Artists and Mentors, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, Qld, 8 March – 8 April 2006 This steel sculpture by Walala Tjapaltjarri represents the Tingari Cycle, an important group of Dreaming stories passed down by the Pintupi people of the Western Desert. These stories tell of the Tingari men, ancestral beings who travelled across vast stretches of desert, shaping the land and creating sacred sites. Walala is known for his bold, geometric style, which he uses to map out Country and ceremony. In this work, he translates his signature visual language, normally seen in acrylic dot paintings, into the hard, lasting surface of steel. Concentric squares, straight lines, and pathways echo the Tingari journeys, bringing a powerful cultural narrative into a contemporary sculptural form. Though made from industrial material, the sculpture remains deeply connected to the desert landscape and the ancient knowledge held within it. @ WALALA TJAPALTJARRI / Copyright Agency, 2025
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art) -
soldDec. 07, 2017Walala Tjapaltjarri (c. 1960 - ) Sans titre
Est: €6,000 - €6,500Sold:€4,500
Millon Riviera -
soldSep. 22, 2020THOMAS, WALALA, WARLIMPIRRNGA TJAPALTJARRI (born c.1964, 1960, c.1958) Tingari Dreaming synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Est: $5,000 - $7,000Sold:$4,400THOMAS, WALALA, WARLIMPIRRNGA TJAPALTJARRI (born c.1964, 1960, c.1958) Tingari Dreaming synthetic polymer paint on canvas 160.5 x 381cm PROVENANCE: Justin Turner Art Index, Sydney Private collection, Sydney
Leonard Joel -
soldJul. 27, 2026WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, Australia (Aboriginal) (1962 - 2026), Tingari, acrylic on canvas (ready to hang), 161 x 102 x 2 cm. (63.39 x 40.15 x 0.79 in.)
Est: $2,000 - $3,000Sold:$3,750WALALA TJAPALTJARRI Australia (Aboriginal), (1962 - 2026) Tingari acrylic on canvas (ready to hang) signed verso: WALALA with Countrymen Art Certificate of Authenticity and holding photos
Lawsons -
soldJun. 06, 2024Walala Tjapaltjarri (Aboriginal) Acrylic On Canvas
Est: $3,000 - $10,000Sold:$3,500DESCRIPTION: Acrylic on canvas painting by Walala Tjapaltjarri (Aboriginal). At reverse: "Walala Tjapaltjarri GUN1203643". Provenance: From a prominent South Beach Estate. CIRCA: Late 20th - early 21st century ORIGIN: Aboriginal DIMENSIONS: H: 60.25" W: 72" CONDITION: Unframed. A moderate indentation at upper left quadrant. Unless otherwise stated, all information provided is the opinion of our specialists. Should you have any specific questions regarding the condition of this lot, please use the ask question button or send us an email.
Akiba Galleries -
soldJul. 27, 2026WALALA TJAPALTJARI, Australia (Aboriginal) (1962 - 2026), Tingari, acrylic on canvas (ready to hang), 205 x 129 x 3 cm. (80.70 x 50.78 x 1.17 in.)
Est: $3,000 - $5,000Sold:$3,250WALALA TJAPALTJARI Australia (Aboriginal), (1962 - 2026) Tingari acrylic on canvas (ready to hang) signed verso, with certificate of authenticity including artist photo
Lawsons -
soldMay. 21, 2015WALALA TJAPALTJARRI (NE C.1960) CYCLE
Est: €2,500 - €3,500Sold:€3,220WALALA TJAPALTJARRI (NE C.1960) CYCLE TINGARI A MARRUWA, 2005 Acrylique sur toile 122 cm x 92,5 cm
Cornette de Saint-Cyr -
soldJun. 06, 2024Walala Tjapaltjarri (Aboriginal) "Tingari Cycle" Acrylic On Canvas
Est: $3,000 - $10,000Sold:$2,750DESCRIPTION: Acrylic on canvas painting by Walala Tjapaltjarri (Aboriginal) entitled "Tingari Cycle". Provenance: From a prominent South Beach Estate. CIRCA: Late 20th - early 21st century ORIGIN: Aboriginal DIMENSIONS: H: 50.5" W: 85.75" CONDITION: Areas of moderate paint loss and minor craquelure. Unframed. Unless otherwise stated, all information provided is the opinion of our specialists. Should you have any specific questions regarding the condition of this lot, please use the ask question button or send us an email.
Akiba Galleries -
soldMar. 09, 2015WALALA TJAPALTJARRI "Tingari" Acrylic on linen.
Est: $4,000 - $6,000Sold:$2,700WALALA TJAPALTJARRI "Tingari" Acrylic on linen. Painted in 2015. GALLERY VALUE AROUND $8,000. Artwork is stretched and ready to hang. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. 113cm x 214cm
Ozbid Auctions -
soldJul. 27, 2026WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, Australia (Aboriginal) (1962 - 2026), Tingari Cycle at Karrilwarra, 1998, acrylic on Belgian linen, 198 x 61 cm. (77.95 x 24.01 in.), frame: 205 x 67 x 5 cm. (80.70 x 26.37 x 1.97 in.)
Est: $1,500 - $2,500Sold:$2,200WALALA TJAPALTJARRI Australia (Aboriginal), (1962 - 2026) Tingari Cycle at Karrilwarra, 1998 acrylic on Belgian linen signed verso: Walala Tjapaltjarri insrcibed verso: Gallery Gondwana/ CAT NO.WT3075/ AGOD #73721 with AGOD Certificate of Authenticity, and artist holding photo
Lawsons -
soldJun. 09, 2025WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, ''Tingari'', Acrylic on linen., 122cm x 182cm
Est: $3,000 - $5,000Sold:$2,200WALALA TJAPALTJARRI 'Tingari' Acrylic on linen. Painted in 2023. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. Artwork is stretched and ready to hang.
Ozbid Auctions -
soldMar. 24, 2015WALALA TJAPALTJARRI "Tingari" Acrylic on linen.
Est: $3,000 - $5,000Sold:$2,200WALALA TJAPALTJARRI "Tingari" Acrylic on linen. Painted in 2014. GALLERY VALUE AROUND $9,000. Artwork is stretched and ready to hang. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. 159cm x 160cm
Ozbid Auctions -
soldMay. 25, 2026WALALA TJAPALTJARI, Australia (Aboriginal) (1962 -), Tingari, acrylic on canvas (ready to hang), 205 x 118 x 3 cm. (80.70 x 46.46 x 1.17 in.)
Est: $3,000 - $5,000Sold:$2,000† WALALA TJAPALTJARI Australia (Aboriginal), (1962 - ) Tingari acrylic on canvas (ready to hang) signed verso, with certificate of authenticity including artist photo
Lawsons -
soldSep. 28, 2025WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, ''Tingari'', Acrylic on canvas., 100cm x 150cm
Est: $2,000 - $3,000Sold:$2,000WALALA TJAPALTJARRI 'Tingari' Acrylic on canvas. Painted in 2024. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Artwork is stretched and ready to hang.
Ozbid Auctions -
soldApr. 28, 2025WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, (1960 -), Tingari, acrylic on canvas (ready to hang), 89 x 99 x 3 cm. (35.0 x 38.9 x 1.1 in.)
Est: $1,000 - $1,500Sold:$2,000† WALALA TJAPALTJARRI (1960 - ) Tingari acrylic on canvas (ready to hang) signed verso, with Certificate of Authenticity including artist photo
Lawsons -
soldMar. 24, 2025WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, (1960 -), Tingari, acrylic on canvas (ready to hang), 203 x 108 x 3 cm. (79.9 x 42.5 x 1.1 in.)
Est: $2,500 - $3,500Sold:$2,000† WALALA TJAPALTJARRI (1960 - ) Tingari acrylic on canvas (ready to hang) signed verso, with certificate of authenticity including artist photo
Lawsons -
soldApr. 28, 2024WALALA TJAPALTJARRI, (c1960 -), Tingari, 2007, acrylic on Belgian linen (ready to hang), 111 x 79 x 3 cm. (43.7 x 31.1 x 1.1 in.)
Est: $2,000 - $3,000Sold:$2,000WALALA TJAPALTJARRI (c1960 - ) Tingari, 2007 acrylic on Belgian linen (ready to hang) signed verso; Altjira Aboriginal Art certificate of authenticity and holding photo, cat no.WT05785
Lawsons -
soldMar. 04, 2021