Tingari Cycle (1997) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 152x122cm Cat 2504WL

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri was one of the small party of Pintupi whose arrival in Kiwirrkura in 1984 made national headlines. Until this point, at the age of about twenty-five, Warlimpirrnga had never encountered European society. The group had been following a traditional lifestyle in the country west of Lake Mackay. After three years at Kiwirrkura, Warlimpirrnga approached Daphne Williams of Papunya Tula Artists with the request that he be allowed to paint. The other artists instructed him in the use of paint and canvas and he completed his first painting for the company in April 1987.

Warlimpirrnga's first eleven paintings were exhibited in Melbourne at the Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi in 1988, the entire group being purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria.

He was one of the four Pintupi artists who helped construct the sand painting that was a feature of the acclaimed 'Papunya Tula Genesis and Genius' exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Warlimpirrnga's earlier paintings depict segments of the Tingari cycle in the classic Tingari style. This vast, undulating religious cycle re-enacted in men's and women's ceremonies, tells of the journeyings of large groups of spirit beings and novices across the country.

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri's work is in many collections including those of the National Gallery of Victoria, Musee National Des Arts Africains et Oceaniens, Paris and the Kelton Foundation, USA.

Warlimpirrnga is married with four children and paints Tingari stories for his country, around the sites of Marua and Kanapilya.