Willy Tjungurrayi

Willy Tjungurrayi was a highly regarded Pintupi artist and senior lawman, known for his deep cultural knowledge and striking visual interpretations of ancestral Dreaming stories. Born in the early 1930s near Patjantja, west of Kintore in the Northern Territory, Willy spent his early life living traditionally on Country before moving east to Papunya during the government-led resettlement of the 1960s.

In the early 1970s, Willy became involved with the Papunya Tula Artists collective, joining a groundbreaking group of Aboriginal men who began using acrylic paint to record sacred designs, ceremonies, and Dreamings tied to their ancestral lands. His early paintings were detailed and narrative-driven, reflecting the ceremonial knowledge he carried as a senior man.

Over time, Willy’s artistic style evolved into a more abstract and minimal approach, marked by precise lines, concentric motifs, and an almost meditative repetition of form. His work frequently depicted the Tingari Dreaming — a powerful series of men’s creation stories associated with long-distance ceremonial journeys across the Western Desert — as well as sacred sites around Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald) and Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay).

Willy’s ability to convey immense cultural weight through subtle variation and pattern has earned him widespread recognition. His paintings have been exhibited across Australia and internationally, and are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Australia and Art Gallery of New South Wales.

As an elder, Willy Tjungurrayi played a key role in maintaining and sharing Pintupi law through both his ceremonial leadership and his artistic legacy. His contributions to the development of contemporary Aboriginal art remain influential, offering a powerful connection between ancient tradition and modern expression.