Riley Tjangala Major b. c.1945

  • Artist (Painter)
One of a new generation of Pintupi artists who began working for Papunya Tula Artists after the establishment of the Pintupi homeland settlement at Kintore in 1981. Painting regularly for the company throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, his work is in major public and private collections.
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Riley’s father passed away when he was a small boy and his mother took him into Haasts Bluff, where he was later initiated. He lived in Papunya for a time in the late ’60s prior to the start of the painting movement, working as a cleaner, then for two years at Haasts Bluff doing stock work. Back in Papunya again, he served for a time as Secretary of the Papunya Council. There were one or two early experiments, but it was not until after the Pintupi move back to Kintore in 1981 that his older brother, George Tjangala , taught him how to paint on canvas in about 1982. He painted regularly for Papunya Tula Artists in the 1980s. Riley’s country lies around Piltarta and Muruntji, south-west of Mt Liebig. He often painted the Snake Dreaming story associated with the site Kakarra. He has served as Chairman of Kintore Council.

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer
Date written:
2011
Last updated:
2011

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Language groups
  • Pintupi