About Charlie Tjapangati

Charlie Tjapangati commenced painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1977, after having observed the older men painting while living in West Camp, Papunya. Stories from the Tingari cycle were the usual subject of his paintings, including the monumental canvas now in the collection of the National Museum of Australia, which was shown in Australian Perspecta 81 at the Art Gallery of NSW, one of the first institutional acts of acknowledgement of Papunya Tula paintings by the Australian contemporary art world. (Vivien Johnson, 2008) In 2000 Charlie travelled to Sydney with a group of four men from Kiwirrkurra to make a ground painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales for the opening of Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius. He has appeared in many group exhibitions and two solo exhibitions since his career began. His work is included in major collections such as those of the National Gallery of Australia, the University of Virginia, USA, and the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory. He died in 2021.