George Ward Tjungurrayi

George Ward Tjungurrayi was born out bush around 1945 south-east of of Kiwirrkura on the Kuljuta side in the Gibson Desert, near the site of Lararra, east of the Tjukurla in Western Australia. He shares the same father as Yala Yala Gibbs and Willy Tjungarrayi. Yala Yala’s youngest wife is Ningura Napurrurla who is a well-known Aboriginal Artist. George trucked in to Papunya in the ’60s by Jeremy Long’s Welfare Branch patrols, he lived in Warburton, Wiluna and Jigalong before returning to Pintupi country and the newly established settlement of Kintore across the NT border. He began to paint for Papunya Tula Artists in about 1976 and painted in different locations, including Yayayi and Waruwiya outstations of Yamunturrngu (Mount Liebig) and Walungurru (Kintore). At that time, he worked alongside other artists such as Joseph Jurra Tjapaltjarri and Ray James Tjangala. He paints the stories of his country – Tingari stories including Snake and Kuningka (Native Cat) Dreamings in the Waralunga/Kulkuta area south-east of Kiwirrkura.