Kevin Wirri

Kevin was born and raised at Haasts Bluff with his father Kata Wirri and mother Freda Nangala. Kevin went to school in Papunya and Areyonga. On his way home from school in Papunya he would often stop to get Albert Namatjira a glass of water and watch him painting.  When he grew up he worked at Haast’s Bluff. In 1974 he married Doris Abbott and came to live in Alice Springs. In 1982 he contributed illustrations for books and newsletters published by the Areyonga Literature production Unit. He started working with the Tangentyere Council and in 1995 was elected to the Tangentyere Executive. He was a member of the 4 Corners Council, a group of traditional law men who make rules for Aboriginal people in the Central Australian region. Kevin has been an artist all his life and has worked on several large art projects. One of these was the decoration of the store at Docker River where he designed and painted a mural. Kevin painted mainly in watercolours and depicted his country around Haasts Bluff, as well as country further west to Mt. Leibig and Docker River, north to Mount Wedge and south to Areyonga and the Petermann Ranges. His masterly style has made him an artist of renown. He and Doris had four children, 3 daughters and one son, Elton, who is now a highly sought after watercolour artist painting in a similar style to his father. Recently, in the last few years, some of his best works have been painted as he passed on the tradition to Elton. He specialised in long horizontal formats.  Kevin passed away in April 2014.