{"id":5876,"date":"2026-02-16T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/Agod\/2026\/09\/08\/73-thomas-tjapaltjarri-famous-indigenous-person-aboriginal\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T19:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T19:40:57","slug":"73-thomas-tjapaltjarri-famous-indigenous-person-aboriginal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrprimo.com\/AGOD\/02\/16\/73-thomas-tjapaltjarri-famous-indigenous-person-aboriginal\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Tjapaltjarri – famous indigenous person \/ aboriginal artist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MORE = <\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.smith-davidson.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.artlink.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.aasd.com.au\/artist\/1877-thomas-tjapaltjarri<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.masongallery.com.au\/thomas-tjapaltjarri<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.clarkcollection.org\/artists\/thomas-tjapaltjarri<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/galleryaustralia.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.artnet.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/martinezartdealer.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/artmob.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.artsy.net\/artist\/thomas-tjapaltjarri\/cv<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Tjapaltjarri<\/strong> (born Tamayinya Tjapangati<\/strong>, also often known as Tamlik<\/strong>) was an Australian Aboriginal artist<\/a>.[3]<\/a><\/sup> He and his brothers Warlimpirrnga<\/a> and Walala<\/a> have become well known as the Tjapaltjarri Brothers. Tjapaltjarri and his family<\/a> became known as the last group of Aboriginal Australians to come into contact with modern, European<\/a> society. They came out of the desert in 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Early life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

See also: Pintupi Nine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tjapaltjarri was born in the desert of Western Australia<\/a> sometime in the 1960s.<ref name=\\”aas1\\”\/><ref name=\\”histoires\\”\/> others say around 1969.<ref name=\\”toohey\\”\/> This is partly because, traditionally, Aborigines have a different understanding of time; they often guess dates by comparing it to when they think another event occurred.<ref name=\\”birnberg\\”\/>”}},”i”:0}}]}”>[6]<\/a><\/sup> He and his family lived a traditional nomadic<\/a> way of life on the western side of Lake Mackay<\/a>. They had never come into contact with European<\/a> society. Most other Pintupi families had been settled in remote towns to the east and west of their traditional country during the 1950s. Tjapaltjarri’s father, Lanti (or “Joshua”), had lived for a short time at the mission<\/a> in Balgo<\/a>, but he had run away after getting into trouble for stealing food. It was his decision to stay in the desert, and he kept his family far away from the towns.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tjapaltjarri’s mother was named Nanu. He also had two other mothers, Papunya and Watjunka, who were his father’s secondary wives. He had two younger sisters, Yalti<\/a> and Yukultji<\/a>, a younger half-brother Walala<\/a>, and four other “siblings” (cousins by blood relation). His father died sometime around 1980. The family finally came into contact with outsiders in October 1984, and were settled at Kiwirrkurra<\/a>. The event was big news at the time, and the family became famously known as “the last nomads”.[1]<\/a><\/sup> Tjapaltjarri was diagnosed<\/a> with epilepsy<\/a> shortly after this.[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas passed away on the 15th of September 2024, in Alice Springs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Painting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tjapaltjarri began painting in December 1987, a few years after settling at Kiwirrkurra.[7]<\/a><\/sup> His cousin Warlimpirrnga<\/a> had already made a name for himself as an artist and he encouraged Tjapaltjarri to paint too.[2]<\/a><\/sup> Tjapaltjarri and Walala joined the Papunya Tula<\/a> artists, and they and Warlimpirrnga eventually gained fame internationally as the Tjapaltjarri Brothers.[7]<\/a><\/sup> Although he normally painted using Tjapaltjarri<\/em> as a surname<\/a>, Tjapaltjarri’s skin name<\/a> is Tjapangati<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His paintings depict stories from the Pintupi dreaming<\/a>.[2]<\/a><\/sup> They are mostly about places and events in the Tingari cycle (a cycle of myths<\/a> about the ancestors of the Pintupi). His designs were inspired by those painted on the body<\/a> during ceremonies. He used acrylic<\/a> paints on canvas<\/a>, sticking to earthy colours (black, white and ochres<\/a>). He painted simple shapes with dotted lines, which is a style that his brothers also use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has had paintings shown in many exhibitions<\/a> around Australia, and also in Switzerland<\/a>, Germany<\/a>, France<\/a> and the United States<\/a>.[4]<\/a><\/sup> His larger paintings sell for at least A$6000 in Alice Springs and A$9500 in galleries in Melbourne and Sydney.[8]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<sup about=\\”#mwt39\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwbw\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”aas1\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-aas1-2\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-aas1-2\\” id=\\”mwcA\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwcQ\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwcg\\”>[<\/span>2<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwcw\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt42\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwdA\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”aas2\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-aas2-3\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-aas2-3\\” id=\\”mwdQ\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwdg\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwdw\\”>[<\/span>3<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mweA\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt45\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mweQ\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”adlam\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-adlam-8\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-adlam-8\\” id=\\”mweg\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwew\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwfA\\”>[<\/span>8<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwfQ\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt48\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwfg\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”birnberg\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-birnberg-5\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-birnberg-5\\” id=\\”mwfw\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwgA\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwgQ\\”>[<\/span>5<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwgg\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt51\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwgw\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”histoires\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-histoires-4\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-histoires-4\\” id=\\”mwhA\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwhQ\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwhg\\”>[<\/span>4<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwhw\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt54\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwiA\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”johnson\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-johnson-7\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-johnson-7\\” id=\\”mwiQ\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwig\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwiw\\”>[<\/span>7<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwjA\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n<sup about=\\”#mwt57\\” class=\\”mw-ref reference\\” rel=\\”dc:references\\” typeof=\\”mw:Extension\/ref\\” id=\\”mwjQ\\” data-mw='{\\”name\\”:\\”ref\\”,\\”attrs\\”:{\\”name\\”:\\”toohey\\”},\\”body\\”:{\\”id\\”:\\”mw-reference-text-cite_note-toohey-1\\”}}’><a href=\\”.\/Thomas_Tjapaltjarri#cite_note-toohey-1\\” id=\\”mwjg\\”><span class=\\”mw-reflink-text\\” id=\\”mwjw\\”><span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwkA\\”>[<\/span>1<span class=\\”cite-bracket\\” id=\\”mwkQ\\”>]<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/sup>\\n”}}”><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a> Toohey, Paul (4 May 2004). “The Last Nomads”<\/a> (PDF). The Bulletin<\/em>. pp. 28\u201335. Archived from the original<\/a> (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2014.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a> “Thomas Tjapaltjarri”<\/a>. Aboriginal Art Store<\/em>. Central Art. Archived from the original<\/a> on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. <\/a> “The Last Nomads”<\/a>. Aboriginal Art Store<\/em>. Central Art. Archived from the original<\/a> on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. <\/a><\/a> “Thomas Tjapaltjarri”<\/a>. Histoires Aborig\u00e8nes<\/em>. Archived from the original<\/a> on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. <\/a> Birnberg, Margo; Janusz Kreczmanski (2004). Aboriginal Artist Dictionary of Biographies: Australian Western, Central Desert and Kimberley Region<\/em>. Marleston, South Australia: J.B. Publishing. pp. 10\u201312. ISBN<\/a> 1-876622-47-4<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. <\/a> The exact date is not known. Some sources guess about 1964,[2]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup> others say around 1969.[1]<\/a><\/sup> This is partly because, traditionally, Aborigines have a different understanding of time; they often guess dates by comparing it to when they think another event occurred.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. <\/a><\/a><\/a> Johnson, Vivien (2008). Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists<\/em><\/a>. Alice Springs: IAD Press. p. 250.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. <\/a> Adlam, Nigel (3 February 2007). “Lost tribe happy in modern world”<\/a>. Herald Sun<\/em>. Herald & Weekly Times Pty Ltd.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    SHORT Biography<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Thomas Tjapaltjarri was born around 1964 in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia. Thomas and his family, which includes fellow artists Walimpirrnga, Walala, Yukultji, Yalti and Tjakaria, led a completely nomadic life until they emerged from the desert, coming to Kiwirrkurra in 1984. The event of the family coming in from the desert was a momentous one. They had remained isolated from relatives who had left their desert homelands twenty years earlier. The family group had roamed between waterholes around Lake Mackay, along the border country between Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

    The family group consisted of four brothers, three sisters and two mothers. The boys and girls were all in their early-to-late teens, although their exact ages were not known; the mothers were in their late 30s. After making contact and establishing their relationships, the Pintupi nine were invited to come and live at Kiwirrkura. The Pintupi-speaking trackers told them there was plenty of food, and water that came out of pipes. Yardi has said that this concept astounded them.

    Three of the brothers \u2013 Walimpirrnga, Walala, and Tamlik (now known as \u2018Thomas\u2019) went on to gain international recognition in the Aboriginal art world. Thomas paints simple, geometric designs and uses a dotting technique shared with other Pintupi artists such as his brothers, Warlimpirrnga and Walala, and with George Ward Tjungurrayi. Thomas\u2019s works generally explore the stories of the Tingari cycle.

    Japingka Gallery has exhibited the work of Thomas Tjapaltjarri over many years including the exhibitions:

    2013 Landmarks and Law Grounds: Men of the Desert
    2011 Tjapaltjarri Brothers
    2004 Travels of the Tingari \u2013 New Pintupi Works
    2003 Pintupi \u2013 Major Works from the Western Desert

    A selection of paintings by Thomas Tjapaltjarri is available from Japingka Gallery, where collectors can buy Aboriginal art online with certainty of quality, authenticity and provenance of art works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Notable Sold Lots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n