Patrick Olodoodi Tjungurrayi

Patrick was born in Yalangerri near Jupiter Well in Western Australia about 1935. He is a Pintubi and Kukatja speaker who divides his time between Balgo and the Pintubi homeland community of Kiwirrkurra to the south. Patrick is the younger brother of Brandy Tjungarrayi. Patrick walked in from the desert as an initated man, up the Canning Stock route and into Old Balgo Mission. He worked building the stone houses and the church at the new Balgo site. He met and married Mirriam Olodoodi (Lucy Yukenbari’s sister ) at the church in Balgo. He first started painting in Balgo in approx 1985 and his paintings reflect the influence of the distinctive styles of the two communities, with the formal composition typical of many Pintubi paintings enlivened by the vivid palette of the Balgo painters. His works feature Tingari and Wanawarra (rainbow snake) tjukurrpa designs from around Jupiter Well. He is a senior Law man who looks after ceremony and country between Balgo, Kiwirrkurra and Kintore. He is a proficient and well known painter who executes his works with care and dilgence.