Desert Art Papunya
The Beginning
- Traditional Australian Aboriginal art was intended to be viewed by a select few.
- In 1970, the Papunya primary school teacher persuaded the Pintupi tribal council to paint a mural on the school wall.
- The piece, "Honey Ant Dreaming" was painted in the traditional ochre palette and used dots to conceal sacred content.
- The artists co-operative started in 1971 and now sells works by 250 Pintupi artists to a keen market.
- Some Papunya artists have moved to nearby settlements at Kintore and Kiwirrkura.
Papunya Style
- Papunya style began -and continues to be- highly formal.
- The designs use dots, lines and simplified shapes to represent a story.
- The arcs, circles and 'U' shapes are sprinkled through figurative boomerangs, shields and axes.
Papunya Artists
- Australian Aboriginal Art is defined by the works of the Papunya artists.
- Many works by Papunya artists such as Clifford Possum and Mick Namarari have been sold for 5 figure sums.
- Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri's "Emu Corroboree Man" sold for $411,750 in 2005
- Some works by original Papunya artists are sold on EBay and amazing bargains occur.
| Papunya Artists | Papunya Artists | ||
| Jagamara | Malcolm Maloney | Tjampitjinpa | Anatjari |
| Nampitjinpa | Kayi Kayi | Tjampitjinpa | Dini Campbell |
| Nampitjinpa | Inyuwa | Tjampitjinpa | Dini Nolan |
| Nampitjinpa | Nyurapayia | Tjampitjinpa | Maxi |
| Nampitjinpa | Yuyua | Tjampitjinpa | Old Walter |
| Napanangka | Makinti | Tjampitjinpa | Ronnie |
| Napangati | Pansy | Tjangala | Major Riley |
| Napangati | Denise Read | Tjangala | Uta Uta |
| Napangati | Florrie Watson | Tjapaltjarri | Billy Stockman |
| Napurrala | Ningurayi | Tjapaltjarri | Clifford Possum |
| Nelson | Michael Jagamara | Tjapaltjarri | Charle Egalie |
| Nungurrayi | Gabriella Possum | Tjapaltjarri | Mick Namarari |
| Nungurrayi | Naata | Tjapaltjarri | Tim Leura |
| Nungurrayi | Nancy | Tjapaltjarri | Walaya |
| Sandy | William | Tjapangarti | Timmy Payungka |
| Syddick | Linda Junkata Napaltjarri | Tjungurrayi | Charlie Tarawa |
| Tjakamara | Anatjari | Tjungurrayi | George |
| Tjakamara | Freddy West | Tjungurrayi | Shorty Lungkarda |
| Tjakamara | John | Tjungurrayi | Two Bob |
| Tjakamara | Long Jack | Tjungurrayi | Yala Yala Gibbs |
| Tjakamara | Simon | Tjungurrayi | Charlie |
| Tjampitjinpa | Kaapa Mbitjana | Tjupurrula | John Warangkula |
