Walter Tjampitjinpa b. c.1910

Also known as Old Walter
  • Artist (Painter)
An elder statesman of the Pintupi community in Papunya and an influential figure at the very beginning of the painting movement.
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Referred to as “Old Walter” in Geoffrey Bardon’s writings on the beginnings of painting at Papunya, Walter Tjampitjinpa was an elder statesman of the Pintupi community in Papunya and senior custodian of the Water Dreaming that runs through Kalipinypa west of Papunya. He had an extensive knowledge of ceremonial sites which were part of the Dreaming journeys mapping out the locations of water sources across a vast area of the Western Desert. Most of his paintings depict the classic Water Dreaming icon for Kalipinypa.

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011

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References [<ExternalResource: Johnson, V. (2008), 'Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists', IAD Press, Alice Springs, NT ISBN 978 1 86465 090 7url:, .>, <ExternalResource: Bardon, Geoffrey (1979), 'Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert', Adelaide, SA : Rigby.>, <ExternalResource: Johnson, V. (2008), 'Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists', IAD Press, Alice Springs, NT ISBN 978 1 86465 090 7.>, <ExternalResource: Bardon, Geoffrey and Bardon, James (2004), 'Papunya: A Place Made After the Story; The Beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement', Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, VIC ISBN-10 : 0-522-85110-X / ISBN-13: 978-0522851106.>] [<ExternalResource: Johnson, V. (2008), 'Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists', IAD Press, Alice Springs, NT ISBN 978 1 86465 090 7url:, .>]