Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula
Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula
Born:
c. 1925
Deceased:
2001
Language Group:
Luritja and Warlpiri
Country:
Ilypili, Ehrenberg Range, Kalpinya (North of Sandy Blight), Northern Territory
Medium:
Acrylic on Canvas and Linen
Subjects:
Water Dreaming, Bush Yams, Fire Dreaming, Eagle, Goanna Dreaming, Untitled
Johnny was born in the Western Desert at a place called Minjilpirri where he lived a very traditional lifestyle during his early childhood years. His family later moved to the Hermannsburg Mission where he worked on the airstrip construction as well as passing through the ceremonies for manhood. Johnny later moved to Haasts Bluff then Papunya where he became an active leader of the community.
Johnny began his painting career in Papunya and quickly developed his own, distinctive style of overdotting, often with several layers and a free-flowing design. His works are held in numerous collections and have been exhibited across Australia and internationally.
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA
Central Collection, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT
Donald Kahn collection, Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, USA
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, USA
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, SA
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
1981
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
1982
Georges Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
1982
Brisbane Festival, Brisbane, QLD
1988
Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, NSW
1989
Mythscapes, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
1991
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, USA
1993
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, WA
1999
Flinders Art Museum, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
1999
Tjinytjilpa, Embassy of Australia, Washington, USA
1999
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, USA
2001
Icons of Australian Aboriginal Art, Singapore
2003
Chapel off Chapel Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
Birnberg, M. & Kreczmanski, JB.
(2004) Aboriginal Artists Dictionary of Biographies, J.B. Publishing Australia
Johnson, V.
(1994) Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert, A Biographical Dictionary, Craftsman House