Walter Jugadai

Walter Jugadai

Walter Jugadai was born in Mpwernte (Alice Springs) in 1983. His mother, Judith Nelson, and father Nebo Jugadai were both from Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff). Walter went to school in Warumpi (Papunya) and Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff). It was at Papunya school that he first began drawing with pencil on paper. Walter grew up watching the old men painting at Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), even before there was an art centre. He fondly remembers helping them, getting water for them, and learning from them.

Walter learnt to paint from members of the Namatjira family. Albert Namatjira’s watercolour paintings continue to inspire Walter today. Amongst those who taught Walter to paint were Kevin Morris and Skipper Raggett. After finishing school in Warumpi (Papunya), Walter went to college at Yirarra in Mpwernte (Alice Springs). He then returned to Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff) where he worked in the old station house.

Walter first started painting on canvas in 2004 at Ikuntji Artists. Over the years, Walter has proven to be a dynamic artist, ranging from vivid landscape scenes to painting the Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) passed down to him from his family. He also sometimes paints the Star and Shield Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) that was passed down to him from his grandfather. Maisie, Walter’s older sister also paints at Ikuntji Artists and his older brother, Martin, is a gifted carver.

Walter has travelled extensively with the art centre around Australia and overseas to Korea, Germany, and Switzerland. He’s represented the art centre at art fairs and markets and has been a director of Ikuntji Artists and Desart Inc.
In 2022, Walter created his first fabric-by-the-metre designs based on his grandfather’s Star and Shield Tjukurrpa.

Languages

Luritja

Community

Haasts Bluff

Artwork themes

  • Landscapes
  • Star & Shield People Tjukurrpa

Artworks

Current Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Group

  • 2024
    Tjukurrpa on Fabrics - IOTA 2024, Holmes a Court Gallery, Margaret River WA
  • 2023
    Ganbu Marra Runway, Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2023
    New Zealand Fashion Week - Auckland, NZ
  • 2023
    Ikuntji Textiles, Central Craft, Alice Springs NT
  • 2023
    Country to Couture 2023, Darwin
  • 2023
    National Indigenous Art Fair, Sydney NSW
  • 2023
    Kaarisilta Biennale, Helsinki, FInland
  • 2023
    Kaarisilta Biennale exhibition, Ersta Manor in Villähde, Lahti, and Galleria Art Kaarisilta in Helsinki
  • 2023
    Ikuntji Collection, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, Sydney NSW
  • 2023
    Ikuntji Style, Artisan, Brisbane
  • 2023
    International Art Textile Biennial, East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale.
  • 2022
    Hazelhurst Ikuntji Artists Printmaking 2022, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Sydney.
  • 2022
    Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin.
  • 2019
    2019 AIATSIS Indigenous Art Market, Canberra.
  • 2019
    Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2019, Darwin., 9-11 August
  • 2019
    National Indigenous Art Fair, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney.
  • 2018
    Desert Mob Market Place 2018, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs., 6th, 7th and 8th September.
  • 2017
    Emerging Contemporaries, Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre, Canberra.
  • 2016
    Jewellery Has Always Been Here, TARNANTHI, JamFactory, Adelaide.
  • 2016
    The Indigenous Jewellery Project Launch Exhibition, Whistlewood, Shoreham.
  • 2016
    Sculpture for the Body, Stanley St Galleries, Sydney., curated by Margarita Sampson.
  • 2015
    Tarnanthi Festival Art Fair, Tandanya Institute, Adelaide.
  • 2015
    Art Parade 2015, Artitja Fine Art, Mosman Park.
  • 2014
    Around the Campfire - Fundraiser Concert, Alice Springs.
  • 2014
    8th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin.
  • 2013
    A Love of Country - the Indigenous Perspective, A Seymour College Art Exhibition, Adelaide.
  • 2013
    7th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin.
  • 2011
    Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs.
  • 2010
    Euan Hills Art Mob, Tasmania.
  • 2010
    Desert Mob Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
  • 2009
    Hogarth Gallery, Sydney.
  • 2008
    Palya Art, Gallows Gallery, Perth.
  • 2008
    Ikuntji Icons, ArtMob, Hobart.
  • 2008
    New Paintings from the Desert, Centred Art, Brisbane.
  • 2008
    Palya Art, Cabinet Malemont, Paris, France
  • 2008
    Ballan and Pannan Galleries, Alice Springs.
  • 2008
    Desert Mob Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
  • 2008
    Mixed Show, Palya Art @ Mary Place, Sydney.
  • 2007
    Big Mob Small Ones, Peta Appleyard Gallery, Alice Springs.

Collections

  • Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Art Collection, Canberra.