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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.

Emu Tracks $120.00

Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Group

  • 2024Tjukurrpa on Fabrics - IOTA 2024, Holmes a Court Gallery, Margaret River WA
  • 2023Ganbu Marra Runway, Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne, VIC
  • 2023New Zealand Fashion Week - Auckland, NZ
  • 2023Ikuntji Textiles, Central Craft, Alice Springs NT
  • 2023Country to Couture 2023, Darwin
  • 2023National Indigenous Art Fair, Sydney NSW
  • 2023Kaarisilta Biennale, Helsinki, FInland
  • 2023Kaarisilta Biennale exhibition, Ersta Manor in Villähde, Lahti, and Galleria Art Kaarisilta in Helsinki
  • 2023Ikuntji Collection, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, Sydney NSW
  • 2023Ikuntji Style, Artisan, Brisbane
  • 2023International Art Textile Biennial, East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale.
  • 2022Hazelhurst Ikuntji Artists Printmaking 2022, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Sydney.
  • 2022Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin.
  • 20192019 AIATSIS Indigenous Art Market, Canberra.
  • 2019Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair 2019, Darwin., 9-11 August
  • 2019National Indigenous Art Fair, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney.
  • 2018Desert Mob Market Place 2018, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs., 6th, 7th and 8th September.
  • 2017Emerging Contemporaries, Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre, Canberra.
  • 2016Jewellery Has Always Been Here, TARNANTHI, JamFactory, Adelaide.
  • 2016The Indigenous Jewellery Project Launch Exhibition, Whistlewood, Shoreham.
  • 2016Sculpture for the Body, Stanley St Galleries, Sydney., curated by Margarita Sampson.
  • 2015Tarnanthi Festival Art Fair, Tandanya Institute, Adelaide.
  • 2015Art Parade 2015, Artitja Fine Art, Mosman Park.
  • 2014Around the Campfire - Fundraiser Concert, Alice Springs.
  • 20148th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin.
  • 2013A Love of Country - the Indigenous Perspective, A Seymour College Art Exhibition, Adelaide.
  • 20137th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin.
  • 2011Talapi Gallery, Alice Springs.
  • 2010Euan Hills Art Mob, Tasmania.
  • 2010Desert Mob Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
  • 2009Hogarth Gallery, Sydney.
  • 2008Palya Art, Gallows Gallery, Perth.
  • 2008Ikuntji Icons, ArtMob, Hobart.
  • 2008New Paintings from the Desert, Centred Art, Brisbane.
  • 2008Palya Art, Cabinet Malemont, Paris, France
  • 2008Ballan and Pannan Galleries, Alice Springs.
  • 2008Desert Mob Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs.
  • 2008Mixed Show, Palya Art @ Mary Place, Sydney.
  • 2007Big Mob Small Ones, Peta Appleyard Gallery, Alice Springs.

Collections

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

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