Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values and Auction results
Artworks offered at auction: 107
Sold: 59%
Highest hammer price: $220,000 AUD
Median hammer price range: $5001-10,000 AUD
This page documents the auction history and market values of Tjumpo Tjapanangka paintings. For his biography, painting style, cultural significance see the main Tjumpo Tjapanangka aboriginal Artist page.
Tjumpo Tjapanangka has a substantial secondary-market history, with auction results ranging from smaller and earlier paintings to major late-career works commanding six-figure prices. His strongest results have generally been achieved by large, well-provenanced paintings associated with Wati Kutjarra, Wilkinkarra and Marlboree, particularly works from his mature period.
The auction records below provide selected examples of artwork titles, dates, dimensions, provenance, auction houses and prices realised. For a more comprehensive database of auction results, readers are recommended to consult the Australian Art Sales Digest.
If you own a painting by Tjumpo Tjapanangka and would like an opinion on its value or are considering selling it, please send clear photographs of the front and back, dimensions, and any Warlayirti Artists documentation, catalogue numbers or provenance.
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 1988-1989
Untitled, 1988
Size
113 × 38.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Deutscher~Menzies, Fine Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 29 June 1999, Lot 223
Provenance
Inscribed verso: ‘Tjumpo./309/88’.
Price Realised
$2,000 AUD
Bandicoot Dreaming, 1988
Size
119.5 × 84.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 30 June 1997, Lot 268
Provenance
Bears artist’s name and catalogue number 078/88 on the reverse. Sold with a certificate of authenticity from Coo-ee Aboriginal Art, Sydney.
Price Realised
$3,200 AUD
Tingari Dreaming, 1989
Size
121.5 × 91 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 23 May 2023, Lot 34
Provenance
Painted for Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), cat. 72/89; Dreamtime Gallery, Queensland; Private Collection.
Price Realised
$38,000 AUD
Artist’s Country, c. 1989
Size
179 × 118.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Deutscher~Menzies, Fine Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 29 June 1999, Lot 141
Provenance
Inscribed verso: ‘Tjumpo Tjapanangka / Balgo WA / 536/89’.
Price Realised
$12,000 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 1990-1993
Wangapanta, 1990
Size
120 × 85 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 26 July 2004, Lot 85
Provenance
Painted in 1990 at Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills) for Warlayirti Artists (cat. 72/90); Dreamtime Gallery, Queensland; The Sam Barry Collection.
Price Realised
$9,000 AUD
Untitled (Ngunkanapilka, West of Lake Mackay), 1991
Size
150 × 75 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Leonard Joel, Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 28 August 2023, Lot 73
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Western Australia (cat. 667/91); Private Collection, USA; Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 26 July 2004, Lot 251; Private Collection, Melbourne.
Price Realised
$8,000 AUD
Wilkinba Near Lake Mackay, 1993
Size
120 × 59.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Sotheby’s, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 24 June 2002, Lot 138
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists (cat. 151/93).
Price Realised
$16,000 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 1994-1997
Kangaroo Dreaming, 1994
Size
120 × 80 cm
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Auction
Leonard Joel, Aboriginal Art & Artifacts, Melbourne, 10 October 2013, Lot 115
Provenance
Inscribed with artist’s name and Warlayirti Artists catalogue number 479/84 verso.
Price Realised
$3000AUD
Artist’s Country (Norcampalika), 1995
Size
90.5 × 60.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, The Peter Elliott Collection, Day 2, Sydney, 31 August 2015, Lot 213
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Western Australia (cat. 329/95). Sold with a Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation certificate.
Price Realised
$4,200 AUD
Artist’s Country (Mt. Kanabruta), 1996
Size
91 × 61 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, The Peter Elliott Collection, Day 2, Sydney, 31 August 2015, Lot 196
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Western Australia (cat. 99/96). Sold with a Warlayirti Artists Aboriginal Corporation certificate.
Price Realised
$2,000 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 1998-1999
Wiringurru Painting, the Great Sandy Desert, WA, 1998
Size
120 × 80 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Bonhams, The Laverty Collection: Contemporary Australian Art, Sydney, 24 March 2013, Lot 125
Provenance
Purchased from Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), Western Australia, in January 1998; The Laverty Collection, Sydney. Accompanied by Warlayirti Artists documentation.
Price Realised
$7,000 AUD
Men’s Law Painting – the Great Sandy Desert, 1998
Size
120.5 × 79.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen
Auction
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 11 October 2022, Lot 81
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Western Australia (cat. 315/98); Gallery Gondwana, Northern Territory (cat. 3957TT); Private Collection, Northern Territory. Accompanied by certificates of authenticity from Warlayirti Artists and Gallery Gondwana.
Price Realised
$5,500 AUD
Maruwa, 1998
Size
80 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Leonard Joel, Fine & Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 22 October 2024, Lot 115
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists (cat. 480/98).
Price Realised
$4,600 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 2000-2001
Wati Kutjarra, 2000
Size
120 × 180 cm
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 23 May 2023, Lot 41
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo (cat. 659/00); Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Private Collection, Melbourne; Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne (stock no. 7748); Private Collection, Sydney.
Price Realised
$120,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra at the Water Site of Mamara, 2000
Size
295 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, London, 14 March 2018, Lot 58
Provenance
Painted at Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), Western Australia, in 2000; Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills; Gabrielle Pizzi Collection, Melbourne, acquired from the above in 2001; Dennis and Debra Scholl Collection, Miami.
Price Realised
$120,000 AUD
Marlboree, 2000
Size
120 × 80 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, London, 14 March 2018, Lot 59
Provenance
Painted in 2000 for Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), Western Australia; Hogarth Galleries, Sydney; Private Collection, Sydney; Dennis and Debra Scholl Collection, Miami.
Price Realised
$38,000 AUD
Kukurpungku, 2000
Size
180 × 119 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 25 July 2005, Lot 247
Provenance
Painted in 2000 for Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 779/00); Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Private Collection, USA.
Price Realised
$34,000 AUD
Marboree, 2000
Size
80 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Lawson~Menzies, Fine Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 31 May 2005, Lot 123
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 193/00); Private Collection, Victoria. Sold with the original Warlayirti Artists certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
$7,500 AUD
Untitled, 2001
Size
179 × 119.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Aboriginal and Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 24 March 2010, Lot 32
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 973/01); Private Collection, Melbourne.
Price Realised
$14,000 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 2002-2003
Marruwa, 2002
Size
180 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Aboriginal Art from the Laverty Collection, Sydney, 8 March 2015, Lot 67
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 787/02); Collection of Colin and Elizabeth Laverty, Sydney, purchased in October 2002.
Price Realised
$17,000 AUD
Untitled, 2002
Size
180 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 30 March 2022, Lot 24
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 79/02); William Mora Galleries, Melbourne; Collection of William and Lucy Mora, Melbourne; Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 21 July 2010, Lot 51; Private Collection, Melbourne.
Price Realised
$14,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2002
Size
150 × 100.5 cm
Medium
Acrylic on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 8 April 2008, Lot 125
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 950/02); Private Collection, Melbourne. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
$6,000 AUD
Untitled, 2002
Size
91 × 91 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Lawson~Menzies, Fine Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 4 June 2006, Lot 549
Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists (cat. TT0206114).
Price Realised
$900 AUD
Marawa, 2002
Size
46 × 38.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Gibson’s, The Alison Kelly Collection of Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 8 May 2023, Lot 46
Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (cat. TT0203288). Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
$700 AUD
Walartu, 2003
Size
180 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Aboriginal Art from the Laverty Collection, Sydney, 8 March 2015, Lot 64
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 1320/03); Collection of Colin and Elizabeth Laverty, Sydney, purchased in April 2004.
Price Realised
$65,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2003
Size
180 × 120 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Bonhams, The Laverty Collection: Contemporary Australian Art, Sydney, 24 March 2013, Lot 161
Provenance
Purchased from Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), Western Australia, in August 2003; The Laverty Collection, Sydney.
Price Realised
$15,000 AUD
Marlboree, 2003
Size
180 × 120 cm
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 23 May 2023, Lot 48
Provenance
Painted for Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), in 2003 (cat. 890/03); Private Collection, acquired from the above.
Price Realised
$100,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2003
Size
120 × 180 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Lawson~Menzies, Australian Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 14 November 2007, Lot 46
Provenance
Warlayirti Fine Arts (cat. 266/03); Tineriba Fine Arts; Private Collection, Victoria. Sold with original art centre documentation.
Price Realised
$29,000 AUD
Tjumpo Tjapanangka Values 2004-2006
Untitled (Tjamu Tjamu), 2004
Size
122 × 91 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Bonhams, Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 28 June 2011, Lot 25
Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists (cat. TT0405161).
Price Realised
$14,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra (Two Brothers), 2004
Size
150 × 180 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 25 May 2022, Lot 75
Provenance
Painted at Wirrimanu, Balgo Hills, for Warlayirti Artists in 2004 (cat. 500/04); Private Collection, acquired from the above.
Price Realised
$220,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2004
Size
180 × 150 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Bonhams, Important Early Works from the Estate of Sir Sidney Nolan; Important Australian Art, Melbourne, 20 August 2013, Lot 127
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Wirrimanu (Balgo Hills), Western Australia (cat. 218/04); Private Collection. Sold with accompanying Warlayirti Artists documentation.
Price Realised
$25,000 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2004
Size
120.5 × 60.5 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, Spinifex and Sand: The Tony Norton and Jann Williams Collection of Aboriginal Fine Art, Melbourne, 4 April 2016, Lot 36
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Western Australia (cat. 700/04); Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne; Spinifex & Sand Collection, Tasmania. Sold with a Warlayirti Artists certificate.
Price Realised
$3,200 AUD
Wilkinkarra, 2005
Size
150 × 75 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, The Ross & Rona Clarke Collection, Brisbane, 9 September 2012, Lot 12
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills, Western Australia (ref. 273/05); framed by The Darwin Gallery, Darwin. Accompanied by a Warlayirti Artists certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
Wilkinkarra, 2006
Size
120 × 80 cm
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Auction
Shapiro Auctioneers, Aboriginal and Contemporary Art, Sydney, 28 July 2022, Lot 10
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills, Western Australia (cat. 466/06); Private Collection, Sydney. Accompanied by a Warlayirti Artists certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
$5,500 AUD
Wati Kutjarra, 2006
Size
300 × 130 cm
Medium
Acrylic on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, The Estate of Ann Lewis, AO, Sydney, 7 November 2011, Lot 38
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists (cat. 2752); Cooee Aboriginal Art, Sydney. Certificate of Authenticity and original invoice.
Price Realised
$24,000 AUD
Marruwa, 2006
Size
150 × 180 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, The Laverty Collection – Part III, Sydney, 5 April 2017, Lot 92
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 869/06); Collection of Colin and Elizabeth Laverty, Sydney, acquired from the above in October 2006.
Price Realised
$19,000 AUD
Wilkinkarra, 2006
Size
150 × 100 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Inaugural Aboriginal Art Auction, Melbourne, 25 March 2009, Lot 159
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills (cat. 279/06); Private Collection, Sydney. Accompanied by a Warlayirti Artists certificate of authenticity.
Price Realised
$12,000 AUD
Wilkinkarra, 2006
Size
150 × 75 cm
Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen
Auction
Mossgreen Auctions, The Ross & Rona Clarke Collection, Brisbane, 9 September 2012, Lot 94
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills, Western Australia (ref. 894/06); Short Street Gallery, Broome, Western Australia (ref. 11388).
Price Realised
$4,800 AUD
Coolamon, 2006
Size
57 × 21 cm
Medium
Glass
Auction
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Fine Art + Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 2 December 2015, Lot 198
Provenance
Warlayirti Artists, Balgo Hills, Western Australia; Northern Edition, Darwin; Private Collection, Melbourne.
Price Realised
Unsold
About This Artist Value Page
The headline auction statistics at the top of this page — including the number of works offered, sale rate, highest recorded sale and median sale price — are calculated from the auction records reviewed for this artist.
Everything below those figures should be regarded as a curated and subjective selection rather than a complete record of the artist’s auction history.
This is not a database of works sold. For comprehensive Australian art auction records and market data, I recommend the Australian Art sales Digest
I select works primarily to show the variety, development and quality of an artist’s work. I favour works with good-quality images over those represented by small or poor auction photographs, and I naturally include paintings that I find particularly interesting or useful in understanding the artist. Although I try to choose representative examples from different periods, subjects, sizes and price levels, these choices inevitably introduce bias.
The highest auction results also require caution. An artist’s three, four or five strongest results may be for exceptional works that entered Australian or international public collections or attracted unusually strong institutional and collector competition. Such prices should not automatically be regarded as representative of the broader market for that artist.
These pages are part of my continuing education in Aboriginal art and are intended primarily for people who enjoy the art and want to explore the variety and evolution of an artist’s work. Apart from the headline auction statistics, the selection, commentary and interpretation on this page are subjective and should not be relied upon for valuation, investment, insurance, taxation or other commercial purposes.
All images featured in this article are presented strictly for educational and informational purposes.
This website may include copyrighted material for which specific authorization has not been obtained from the copyright owner.
All such images are presumed to be the intellectual property of the respective artist or their estate, and are used in accordance with principles of fair dealing or fair use under applicable copyright law.