Wangkatjungka Aboriginal Art

A selection of paintings showing the styles from this Aboriginal art region - some paintings may still be available for sale, while some may have been sold.

 

Cave at Nyirla by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Cave at Nyirla

Jap 003469  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 77 cm

Wirli by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Wirli

Jap 006286  |  acrylic on canvas  |  96 x 76 cm

Lirtawarti by Nora Tjookootja

Nora Tjookootja  |  Lirtawarti

Jap 002846  |  acrylic on canvas  |  64 x 63 cm

Kirriwirri to Yurlpu by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kirriwirri to Yurlpu

Jap 005555  |  acrylic on canvas  |  108 x 80 cm

Warlpa – Creek by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Warlpa – Creek

Jap 003106  |  acrylic on canvas  |  82 x 61 cm

Parpurta- Springwater by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Parpurta- Springwater

Jap 006363  |  acrylic on canvas  |  131 x 76 cm

Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 006306  |  acrylic on canvas  |  117 x 96 cm

Wayarnpajarti by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wayarnpajarti

Jap 005132  |  acrylic on canvas  |  99 x 82 cm

Tapu by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Tapu

Jap 002967  |  acrylic on canvas  |  144 x 99 cm

Jawirrpa by Biddee Baadjo

Biddee Baadjo  |  Jawirrpa

Jap 001716  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 78 cm

Murtikujarra by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Murtikujarra

Jap 002732  |  acrylic on canvas  |  144 x 97 cm

Nyirla – My Country by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla – My Country

Jap 003555  |  ochre on canvas  |  140 x 106 cm

Tipurlju by Biddee Baadjo

Biddee Baadjo  |  Tipurlju

Jap 001747  |  acrylic on canvas  |  83 x 66 cm

Rockholes at Piparr by Mildred Benny

Mildred Benny  |  Rockholes at Piparr

Jap 002617  |  acrylic on canvas  |  110 x 83 cm

Billabong by Maryanne Downs

Maryanne Downs  |  Billabong

Jap 002577  |  acrylic on canvas  |  85 x 56 cm

Wayarnpajarti by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wayarnpajarti

Jap 006902  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 84 cm

Tapu by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Tapu

Jap 005130  |  acrylic on canvas  |  81 x 74 cm

Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 006302  |  ochre on canvas  |  115 x 96 cm

Kirriwirri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kirriwirri

Jap 002716  |  acrylic on canvas  |  102 x 95 cm

Kurtararra- Two Brothers by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kurtararra- Two Brothers

Jap 006300  |  acrylic on canvas  |  133 x 83 cm

Wirnpa by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wirnpa

Jap 006904  |  acrylic on canvas  |  71 x 60 cm

Ngawuli by Biddee Baadjo

Biddee Baadjo  |  Ngawuli

Jap 001727  |  acrylic on canvas  |  84 x 66 cm

Tjuljul by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Tjuljul

Jap 002633  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 97 cm

Piyurr by Biddee Baadjo

Biddee Baadjo  |  Piyurr

Jap 006315  |  acrylic on canvas  |  117 x 97 cm

Warnti by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Warnti

Jap 005602  |  acrylic on canvas  |  116 x 95 cm

Piparr Rockholes by Mildred Benny

Mildred Benny  |  Piparr Rockholes

Jap 004193  |  acrylic on canvas  |  115 x 83 cm

Yimiri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Yimiri

Jap 006343  |  acrylic on canvas  |  142 x 98 cm

Purtibuja by George Tuckerbox

George Tuckerbox  |  Purtibuja

Jap 002120  |  acrylic on canvas  |  84 x 64 cm

Lirrlirtiwartu and Payimjarra by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Lirrlirtiwartu and Payimjarra

Jap 006366  |  acrylic on canvas  |  131 x 80 cm

Kulyayi – Artist’s Country by Peter Goodijie

Peter Goodijie  |  Kulyayi – Artist’s Country

Jap 003181  |  ochre on canvas  |  85 x 84 cm

Payarr – Springwater by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Payarr – Springwater

Jap 005551  |  acrylic on canvas  |  96 x 77 cm

Wayarnpajarti by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wayarnpajarti

Jap 005075  |  acrylic on canvas  |  74 x 62 cm

Warla Country and Desert Waterholes by Wangkatjungka Collaboration

Wangkatjungka Collaboration  |  Warla Country and Desert Waterholes

Jap 006377  |  acrylic on canvas  |  242 x 174 cm

Jilji Country at Kirriwirri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Jilji Country at Kirriwirri

Jap 006265  |  acrylic on canvas  |  77 x 54 cm

Kirriwirri and Kurlyayi – Waterholes by Wangkatjungka Collaboration

Wangkatjungka Collaboration  |  Kirriwirri and Kurlyayi – Waterholes

Jap 004227  |  acrylic on canvas  |  216 x 174 cm

Travelling in Nyirla Country by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Travelling in Nyirla Country

Jap 003527  |  acrylic on canvas  |  111 x 84 cm

Four Waterholes near Kirriwirri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Four Waterholes near Kirriwirri

Jap 002705  |  acrylic on canvas  |  145 x 104 cm

Five Waterholes from Kirriwirri to Kupangkurlu by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Five Waterholes from Kirriwirri to Kupangkurlu

Jap 002676  |  acrylic on canvas  |  143 x 103 cm

Luurn (Kingfisher) – My Story by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Luurn (Kingfisher) – My Story

Jap 003465  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 84 cm

Piyurr by Biddee Baadjo

Biddee Baadjo  |  Piyurr

Jap 004447  |  acrylic on canvas  |  113 x 82 cm

Lukakurlu by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Lukakurlu

Jap 005704  |  acrylic on canvas  |  118 x 80 cm

Yimiri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Yimiri

Jap 005597  |  acrylic on canvas  |  142 x 90 cm

Parnta and Yarran Trees by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Parnta and Yarran Trees

Jap 003095  |  acrylic on canvas  |  175 x 70 cm

Markurti by George Tuckerbox

George Tuckerbox  |  Markurti

Jap 002110  |  acrylic on canvas  |  99 x 93 cm

Wirnpa by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Wirnpa

Jap 006341  |  acrylic on canvas  |  117 x 96 cm

Japingka and Warnti by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Japingka and Warnti

Jap 006362  |  acrylic on canvas  |  131 x 76 cm

Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 004220  |  ochre on canvas  |  145 x 124 cm

Nyirjil Nyirjil by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Nyirjil Nyirjil

Jap 003090  |  acrylic on canvas  |  72 x 70 cm

Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 006305  |  ochre on canvas  |  117 x 96 cm

Japingka Waterhole by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Japingka Waterhole

Jap 005134  |  acrylic on canvas  |  98 x 81 cm

Wayarnpajarti by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wayarnpajarti

Jap 006899  |  acrylic on canvas  |  82 x 76 cm

Mangki Waterhole by George Tuckerbox

George Tuckerbox  |  Mangki Waterhole

Jap 002130  |  acrylic on canvas  |  91 x 61 cm

Red Hills, Nyirla by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Red Hills, Nyirla

Jap 003519  |  acrylic on canvas  |  99 x 77 cm

Kirriwirri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kirriwirri

Jap 002711  |  acrylic on canvas  |  144 x 97 cm

Bush Tucker – Yurlarn Bush Banana by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Bush Tucker – Yurlarn Bush Banana

Jap 002701  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 86 cm

Naami with Blue Tongued Lizard by George Tuckerbox

George Tuckerbox  |  Naami with Blue Tongued Lizard

Jap 002095  |  acrylic on canvas  |  82 x 67 cm

Lukakurlu by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Lukakurlu

Jap 005542  |  acrylic on canvas  |  97 x 86 cm

Jila – Living Water by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Jila – Living Water

Jap 006901  |  acrylic on canvas  |  99 x 83 cm

Warla Country Waterholes by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Warla Country Waterholes

Jap 006350  |  acrylic on canvas  |  137 x 97 cm

Tapu by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Tapu

Jap 005070  |  acrylic on canvas  |  99 x 81 cm

Five Waterholes near Kirriwirri by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Five Waterholes near Kirriwirri

Jap 002652  |  acrylic on canvas  |  144 x 80 cm

Kupankurlu by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kupankurlu

Jap 002721  |  acrylic on canvas  |  86 x 65 cm

Wirnpa by Jill Jack

Jill Jack  |  Wirnpa

Jap 005077  |  acrylic on canvas  |  74 x 63 cm

Payirjarra by Penny K Lyons

Penny K Lyons  |  Payirjarra

Jap 003100  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 77 cm

Round Hills at Nyirla by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Round Hills at Nyirla

Jap 003462  |  acrylic on canvas  |  84 x 77 cm

Kamarral by Maryanne Downs

Maryanne Downs  |  Kamarral

Jap 002578  |  acrylic on canvas  |  100 x 84 cm

Desert Waterholes by Wangkatjungka Collaboration

Wangkatjungka Collaboration  |  Desert Waterholes

Jap 001907  |  acrylic on canvas  |   172 x 150 cm

Kirriwirri and Yurnpurr by Nada Rawlins

Nada Rawlins  |  Kirriwirri and Yurnpurr

Jap 002718  |  acrylic on canvas  |  172 x 113 cm

Nyirla Rockhole by Willie Kew

Willie Kew  |  Nyirla Rockhole

Jap 006304  |  ochre on canvas  |  117 x 96 cm

Warnayirti Waterhole by Elsie Thomas

Elsie Thomas  |  Warnayirti Waterhole

Jap 002068  |  acrylic on canvas  |  80 x 63 cm

Wangkatjungka is a remote Aboriginal community situated 120 km south-east of Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is located on land excised from Christmas Creek Station, and is a settlement of predominantly Wangkatjungka speaking people.

Many of the older Aboriginal artists in the Community grew up in their ancestral lands in the Great Sandy Desert. Beginning in 1906 the Canning Stock Route was forged through the heart of their country, and this had a major impact on their lives. By the 1920s and 1930s many Aboriginal people had moved towards the cattle station country further north, and the last wave of migrations out of the desert happened by the early 1950’s. Many older people came as children with their families, and subsequently began work on the cattle stations in the area.

Christmas Creek Station was historically a gathering place for law ceremony and cultural meetings over the wet season. The community at Wangkatjungka was built there during the 1970s, and Aboriginal art began there in the early 1990s as a means of recording stories and culture. From this starting point a distinctive group of painters has emerged, with stylistic links to Fitzroy Crossing and Balgo, as well as to other Wangkatjungka-speaking Kimberley artists who worked in ochre pigment, including Rover Thomas and Billy Thomas.

Aboriginal art has become an important means for Wangkatjungka people to gain financial independence and to preserve and pass on their culture. They continue to paint the sites and waterholes they left behind in the Great Sandy Desert, sites for which they still maintain ritual obligations and custodianship.

Their individual paintings depict the intimate relationship that each artist has with the places that are part of their ancestral history and Dreaming, while the large collaborative canvases are like rich, mosaic maps that sing the inter-related sites of their desert homelands. Unlike Aboriginal artists from other desert communities who are mixed clans, the Wangkatjungka artists are mainly neighbours from the desert with common language and cultural traditions.

Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links

Collaborative Paintings
Biddee Baadjo
Jill Jack
Rosie Goodjie
George Tuckerbox
Nada Rawlins
Penny K Lyons
Stumpy Brown
Willie Kew