ARTIST BIO

George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi is a Pintupi speaking artist, born around 1947 North-west of Kiwirrkurra near Kintore.

George started painting in about 1976 after travelling from the desert via Mount Doreen and Yuendumu, to become one of the youngest male artists to paint for the Papunya Tula art movement.

George began painting with his older brother Willy Tjungurrayi and was influenced by his uncle Charlie Tarawa Tjungurrayi who was a teacher at Papunya Tula.

George’s signature work ‘Tingari’ depicts his dreaming, which focuses on the creation of his country their the sacred sites.

The high caliber of George’s works has been internationally recognised with his paintings hanging in galleries and museums across Australia, New Zealand, The United States of America, France and The Netherlands.

In 2008, George Hairbrush was titled, ‘the most collectable artist’ by The Australian Art Collector magazine and in 2018 George’s work was exhibited in the 21st Biennale of Sydney, which is regarded as one of the leading international contemporary art events. 

In 2020, George was selected at a finalist in the prestigious Mosman Art Prize!

In this particular piece, George paints in a bold, monochromatic palette which contrasts beautifully over the piece’s vibrant mustard background. George’s work is striking with his precise line work creating hypnotic and geometric patterns throughout the canvas. This unique technique makes his Tingari works appear almost three-dimensional, jumping off the canvas and capturing the eye!