Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri
Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri was born in approximately 1952 in the Western Australian desert near where the community of Kiwirrkurra now stands. In 1980-81 Joseph "assisted Charlie Tarawa Tjungurrayi with his paintings: it was Charlie Tarawa, he says, who taught him how to paint." (Vivien Johnson, 2008). He commenced painting for Papunya Tula Artists in his own right in 1986 and has since appeared in many exhibitions. His three sisters also were painters. His work was included in the Papunya Tula Artists exhibition at the John Weber Gallery in New York in 1989. In 1997, he went to Paris with Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula to make a ground painting as part of an exhibition at the Establissement Public du Parc de la Grande Halle de la Villette. He has work in numerous national and international collections including Auckland City Gallery in New Zealand, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Chicago. In 1999 and 2000, he was elected as Chairman of Papunya Tula Artists. Joseph passed away in 2022.
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Natonal Gallery of Australia, acquires Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri and George Tjungurrayi December 2025
National Gallery of Australia has acquired works by Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri and George Tjungurrayi
for the national collection. The acquisition reflects the gallery's
ongoing commitment to representing major artists associated with Papunya Tula Artists.
Both painters are recognised for their significant contributions to
contemporary Aboriginal art and Western Desert painting traditions, and
their inclusion strengthens the National Gallery's holdings of important
Papunya Tula Artists works.
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The National Gallery of Australia has acquired works by Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri and George Tjungurrayi
for the national collection. The acquisition reflects the gallery's
ongoing commitment to representing major artists associated with Papunya Tula Artists.
Both painters are recognised for their significant contributions to
contemporary Aboriginal art and Western Desert painting traditions, and
their inclusion strengthens the National Gallery's holdings of important
Papunya Tula Artists works.
Wynne Prize 2022 From May 14, 2022
Kumanjayi Tjapaltjarri has been selected as a finalist in this year's Wynne Prize at the AGNSW.