Michael Jagamarra

Michael Jagamara was a highly respected Warlpiri artist from Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), west of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory. Born around 1946, he grew up learning the traditional stories, ceremonies, and sand painting techniques of his people, passed down to him by his grandfather.

In the early 1980s, Jagamara began working with acrylic on canvas and quickly rose to prominence as one of the key figures in the Papunya Tula movement. His artworks vividly depict major Warlpiri Dreamings—such as Possum, Snake, Kangaroo, and Yam—using complex dotting and symbolic forms to represent sacred stories and sites from his country.

His career was marked by numerous significant achievements, including winning the first National Aboriginal Art Award in 1984 and creating the iconic 196-square-metre mosaic in the forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra. His work also featured on an official BMW Art Car and in major exhibitions around the world.

Michael Jagamara played an important role in bridging traditional Aboriginal culture with the contemporary art world. His paintings continue to be celebrated for their cultural depth, storytelling, and visual power—keeping the spirit of Warlpiri country alive through art.