Language Group: Pintupi
Date: Born 1945

George Ward Tjungurrayi was born near the site of Lararra west of Tjukurla, West Australia, and south east of Kiwirrkurra. George arrived at Papunya as a young boy, where he worked as a fencer and butcher in the community kitchen. George’s father was also the father of Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi and Willy Tjungurrayi, who were among Papunya Tula’s leading artists. George frequently observed the two at work and began to paint after the death of Yala Yala in 1998. George’s paintings often feature the big lake site of Kaakuratintja (Lake Macdonald), which a large group of Tingarri men travelled through on their way east. In 2004, George was awarded the Art Gallery of NSW’s Wynne Prize for landscape painting. After painting for private dealers in Alice Springs as well as Papunya Tula, George has returned to live with family in Warakurna. Both of his children, Grace Ward Napaltjarri and Adrian Ward Tjapaltjarri now occasionally paint for Papunya Tula Artists.

Biographical information courtesy of Papunya Tula Artists.