Patrick Olodoodi Tjungurrayi

(also known as Patrick Yala Uluturti)

Born:  c. 1935

Died:  2017

Language:  Manyjilyjarra, Kukatja

Country:  Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia

Patrick was born c.1935 in the bush in Pintupi country near Jupiter Well, Western Australia. He did not encounter ‘white people’ until he was a young man.`

Around 1949 with his family, Patrick followed the camel tracks along the Canning Stock Route from well to well, rockhole to rockhole. The way the ancestors took across the vast but familiar landscape of Pintupi country towards Balgo (near the Northern Territory border).   

Patrick remained in Balgo until the early 1980’s when they moved to the newly established first Pintupi homelands community at Kintore (just inside the NT).

After a few years Patrick’s wife and son moved to Balgo whilst Patrick travelled the country finding labouring work from Docker River, Warburton, Jamjam, Wingellina, Meekatharra, Newman, Broome, Kalumburu, Wyndham.

Around 1986 Patrick settled back in Balgo, began painting and became one of Warlayirti Artists prominent artists.

In the early 1990’s Patrick, with his extended family, moved to Kiwirrkurra, a recently established Pintupi homelands community over the WA border from Kintore.

Patrick married Miriam Napanangka and they had a daughter, Elizabeth.

From 1993 Patrick painted for Papunya Tula Artists and he already had a prominent profile from previously working with Warlayirti Artists.

Patrick’s earlier paintings depicted Rainbow Snake, Thunderstorm, Lightning and Tingari Dreamings for the country around Puntujarrpa. He was acknowledged as a Senior Lawman. His later paintings were more focused on ‘place’ than ‘narrative’ including important sites to the south and west of Kiwirrkurra.

According to Vivien Johnson what Michael Rae, art coordinator at Balgo, said in the late 1980’s of Patrick’s work is still pertinent: ‘He comes from the heart of the Gibson Desert and his art displays the profound degree of abstraction typical of that area. The designs are invariably powerfully direct and resonate with the artist’s great understanding of the Law’ which was passed to him by his father.

Patrick’s work was included in the Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Patrick’s son, Raymond Tjapaltjarri, started painting in 2002, his daughter, Elizabeth Olodoodi Napaltjarri, started in 2004. Patrick’s sister, Elizabeth Nyumi Nungurrayi was one of Balgo’s Warlayirti Artists’ most esteemed artists.

Patrick died in 2017.

Collections include;

Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery of Western Australia
South Australian Museum

Source used:        

Johnson, Vivien, Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists, Australia. IAD Press, 2008