17 Facts About Tiger Palpatja

Tiger Palpatja was born in the bush, at a rockhole called Piltati, which is close to what is Nyapari in north-west South Australia.

Tiger Palpatja's family were Pitjantjatjara, and they lived a traditional, nomadic life in the bushland around Piltati.

When he was a teenager, Tiger Palpatja's family settled at Ernabella, which at the time was a Presbyterian mission and a sheep station.

Tiger Palpatja grew up on the mission, and learned to speak a little English in school there.

Tiger Palpatja eventually married Nyalapanytja, and they lived in Ernabella for many years.

Tiger Palpatja worked on the station, shearing sheep and building fences.

When he aged, Tiger Palpatja became a ngangkari, an important and respected role in traditional Pitjantjatjara communities.

Tiger Palpatja started painting in September 2004, less than eight years before his death.

Tiger Palpatja had never painted before this, and was better known for woodworking, especially making spears.

Tiger Palpatja became a finalist three more time before his death, in 2006,2010, and 2011, but he never won.

Tiger Palpatja was a finalist in the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards in 2009, and again in 2011.

Tiger Palpatja mainly painted for Tjala Arts, but from 2009 he began working for Tjungu Palya in nearby Nyapari.

Tiger Palpatja's painted sacred stories from his Dreaming, mostly to do with Piltati, where he was born.

Tiger Palpatja's paintings were known for their bright colours, as opposed to the traditional natural ochre colours used by many other artists of the Western Desert.

Tiger Palpatja's work is held in permanent galleries in most of these cities.

Tiger Palpatja had work exhibited overseas: at the University of Virginia in 2006, and in Singapore in 2008.

Tiger Palpatja's paintings are held in the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian National University, Charles Darwin University, Flinders University, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.