![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by WILLY TJUNGURRAYI of Papunya Tula Artists. The title is Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald). [WT1609087] (Acrylic on Belgian Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/k/kaakuratintja-lake-macdonald-4767-SMALL.jpg)
WILLY TJUNGURRAYI (dec)
Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald)
![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by WILLY TJUNGURRAYI of Papunya Tula Artists. The title is Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald). [WT1607014] (Acrylic on Belgian Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/k/kaakuratintja-lake-macdonald-4361-SMALL-1.webp)
WILLY TJUNGURRAYI (dec)
Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald)
![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by WILLY TJUNGURRAYI of Papunya Tula Artists. The title is Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald). [WT1606088] (Acrylic on Belgian Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/k/kaakuratintja-lake-macdonald-4363-SMALL-1.webp)
WILLY TJUNGURRAYI (dec)
Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald)
![Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by WILLY TJUNGURRAYI of Papunya Tula Artists. The title is Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald). [WT1411043] (Acrylic on Belgian Linen)](https://media.redotgallery.com/stockroom/gallery/k/kaakuratintja-lake-macdonald-4365-SMALL-1.webp)
WILLY TJUNGURRAYI (dec)
Kaakuratintja (Lake MacDonald)
Willy Tjungurrayi was born at Patjantja to the south-west of Lake MacDonald, circa 1930. His brothers are George Ward Tjungurrayi and the late Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi (c. 1928 – 1998), both of whom are prominent artists who also paints for Papunya Tula Artists. Willy was living on the Western side of Lake MacDonald prior to walking in to Papunya with a large group. His first contact with Europeans was with one of Jeremy Long’s welfare patrols near Lake MacDonald. He began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1976 and by the 1980s he has emerged as one of the senior Pintupi painters. In 1999, he contributed to the Kintore men’s painting as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.
His seniority within the community has granted him permission to paint important and sacred Tingari stories, many of which cannot be revealed to the uninitiated. He tends to paint with a restrained palette (browns, oranges, dusky pinks and creams) typical of many of the Papunya artists. His recent work is comprised of irregular lines of very fine, pale dotting on a coloured background, resulting in subtle, elegant, linear images.
Willy has exhibited in group shows since 1983, and has since held two solo exhibitions, in 2000 and 2002, in Melbourne. His works have been showcased around the world, including USA, UK, Japan and Spain. His works are highly sought-after and also represented in various major institutions and private collections including the Aboriginal Art Museum (AAMU) in Utrecht, Netherlands and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW).
Just last year in October 2016, his works were showcased at AAMU, in a major exhibition titled Mapping Australia: Country to Cartography, which had featured an abundant palette of colours from the desert areas of Central and Western Australia. Fellow artists Johnny Yungut Tjupurrula and Naata Nungarrayi were also showcased. The show was also opened by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
Willy Tjungurrayi was born at Patjantja to the south-west of Lake MacDonald, circa 1930. His brothers are George Ward Tjungurrayi and the late Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi (c. 1928 – 1998), both of whom are prominent artists who also paints for Papunya Tula Artists. Willy was living on the Western side of Lake MacDonald prior to walking in to Papunya with a large group. His first contact with Europeans was with one of Jeremy Long’s welfare patrols near Lake MacDonald. He began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1976 and by the 1980s he has emerged as one of the senior Pintupi painters. In 1999, he contributed to the Kintore men’s painting as part of the Western Desert Dialysis Appeal.
His seniority within the community has granted him permission to paint important and sacred Tingari stories, many of which cannot be revealed to the uninitiated. He tends to paint with a restrained palette (browns, oranges, dusky pinks and creams) typical of many of the Papunya artists. His recent work is comprised of irregular lines of very fine, pale dotting on a coloured background, resulting in subtle, elegant, linear images.
Willy has exhibited in group shows since 1983, and has since held two solo exhibitions, in 2000 and 2002, in Melbourne. His works have been showcased around the world, including USA, UK, Japan and Spain. His works are highly sought-after and also represented in various major institutions and private collections including the Aboriginal Art Museum (AAMU) in Utrecht, Netherlands and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW).
Just last year in October 2016, his works were showcased at AAMU, in a major exhibition titled Mapping Australia: Country to Cartography, which had featured an abundant palette of colours from the desert areas of Central and Western Australia. Fellow artists Johnny Yungut Tjupurrula and Naata Nungarrayi were also showcased. The show was also opened by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.
