Aboriginal Art > Aboriginal Art Styles > Western Desert Art > Pintupi Art > Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri > Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri Artworks Values

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri: artwork values and Auction results

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri is one of the most sought-after living Pintupi artists, with exceptional paintings regularly achieving six-figure prices at auction. His strongest results are reserved for monumental museum-quality works from the late 1990s onwards, particularly large canvases depicting Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), Marawa and related Tingarisubjects. Paintings with distinguished provenance, major exhibition history or inclusion in important collections consistently command the highest prices.

The auction record in this guide shows a clear distinction between his major exhibition works and more modest paintings. Large-format canvases measuring around 183 × 244 cm have realised between A$120,000 and A$250,000, while other significant works have achieved A$60,000–90,000. By comparison, smaller paintings and later commercial works generally sell for considerably less, demonstrating that size, quality, provenance, rarity and exhibition history all have a substantial influence on value.

Like many leading Papunya Tula artists, Warlimpirrnga’s market cannot be judged by size alone. His finest paintings combine exceptional technical refinement, important Tingari imagery, early or mature periods, and impeccable provenance. Works exhibited internationally—including those associated with dOCUMENTA 13 and the No Boundariesexhibition—have attracted particularly strong collector interest and represent the upper end of his market.

If you own a painting by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri and would like to know its current market value or are considering selling it, send clear photographs of the front, back, dimensions, and any provenance or certificates of authenticity. Comparable auction records, the painting’s period, subject, condition and exhibition history can all have a significant impact on value.

For more about the artists biography and Painting style visit Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri: Biography and painting style

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Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 1988-1997

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1988, synthetic polymer paint on linen depicting concentric circles and geometric Tingari designs in ochre, black and white.

Untitled, 1988

Size
107 × 49.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Mossgreen Auctions, The Alan Boxer Collection of Australian Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 17 March 2015, Lot 108

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory (Cat. No. WT880862). Chapman Gallery, Canberra. The Alan Boxer Collection, Canberra.

Price Realised
$1,300 AUD

Untitled

Size
182 × 90 cm

Medium
Acrylic on canvas

Sale Details
Elder Fine Art, Aboriginal Art, Adelaide, 27 November 2005, Lot 67

Provenance
Registration No. WT01121.

Price Realised
$3,300 AUD

Snake Dreaming by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1990, synthetic polymer paint on composition board depicting the travels of the Snake Ancestors between Kiwirrkurra and Wilkinkarra through concentric circles and sinuous lines.

Snake Dreaming, 1990

Size
61 × 30.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on composition board

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Important Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 30 June 1997, Lot 273

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists (Cat. No. T900976).

Price Realised
$1,300 AUD

Two Boys at Marrawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1991, synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen depicting the Tingari Cycle with concentric circles, sinuous pathways and ceremonial designs.

Two Boys at Marrawa, 1991

Size
90 × 153 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Mossgreen Auctions, Aboriginal Art from the Collection of John W. Kluge; The Paul Greenburg Collection, Melbourne, 6 June 2012, Lot 12

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$11,000 AUD

Tingari by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1993, synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen depicting concentric ceremonial sites linked by finely dotted pathways in white, brown and black.

Tingari, 1993

Size
122 × 61 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 20 October 2020, Lot 43

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory (Cat. No. WT931160). Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings, Victoria (Cat. No. 5221). Ebes Collection, Victoria.

Price Realised
$2,500 AUD

Travels of Tingari Men Near Wilkinkarra by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1993. A tall rectangular painting filled with undulating horizontal bands of tiny white, yellow and reddish-brown dots on a dark brown background. Five concentric circular motifs stretch across the centre, linked by narrow horizontal pathways. The flowing parallel lines create a shimmering optical effect, suggesting movement across the desert landscape.

Travels of Tingari Men Near Wilkinkarra, 1993

Size
137 × 91 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal & Tribal Art, Sydney, 9 November 1997, Lot 146

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra in 1993. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$1,300 AUD

Water Dreaming at Marpurri, South of Lake Mackay by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1996. A horizontal painting in soft earthy colours of pink, white, olive green and reddish brown. Large concentric circles dominate the composition, linked by straight horizontal and vertical pathways to form a grid across the canvas. Between the circles are intricate maze-like geometric patterns built from thousands of tiny dots, creating a rhythmic and shimmering surface inspired by the desert landscape.

Water Dreaming at Marpurri, South of Lake Mackay, 1996

Size
91 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Gibson’s, Australian & International Art, Melbourne, 21 April 2024, Lot 212

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne. The Kelton Collection, USA. Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$5,500 AUD

Wanampi Dreaming at Wilkinkarra by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1996. A horizontal painting in earthy ochres, deep black, white, grey-blue and rusty red. A large black snake with yellow stripes winds across the centre of the composition, surrounded by many concentric circles connected by pathways. Thick undulating bands frame the painting, while intricate dotted lines and geometric patterns create a rhythmic, ceremonial map of the desert landscape.

Wanampi Dreaming at Wilkinkarra, 1996

Size
61 × 91 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 20 October 2020, Lot 47

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory (Cat. No. WT960809). Aboriginal Gallery of Dreamings, Victoria (Cat. No. 5845). Ebes Collection, Victoria.

Price Realised
$3,000 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1996. A vertical painting in warm desert colours of burnt orange, reddish brown, olive green and bright white. Large four-lobed ceremonial motifs resembling flowers or cross-shaped forms are scattered across the surface. Each contains finely painted concentric circles at its centre. The background is filled with dense fields of small white, green and brown dots, creating a rich, textured surface with a strong sense of rhythm and depth.

Untitled, 1996

Size
89 × 61 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Davidson Auctions, Australian & International Art, Sydney, 4 November 2018, Lot 216

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists (Cat. No. WT960265).

Price Realised
$700 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 1998-1999

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Site of Tarkul) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1998. A horizontal painting filled with vertical bands of flowing dotted lines in black, white and golden ochre. The bands gently weave from side to side, enclosing elongated diamond and oval shapes that repeat across the canvas. The closely spaced dots create a shimmering optical effect reminiscent of rippling sand or ceremonial pathways across the desert.

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Site of Tarkul), 1998

Size
91 × 137 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, Important Australian and Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 7 June 2016, Lot 127

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. The Thomas Vroom Collection, The Netherlands.

Price Realised
$2,800 AUD

Wati Dreaming at Marawa, 1998

Size
60 × 150 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Lawson~Menzies (now trading as Menzies), Aboriginal Art Auction, Sydney, 23 November 2004, Lot 362

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT9804123).

Price Realised
$2,600 AUD

Maw Maw Yntjipi by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999. A large horizontal painting filled with thousands of fine white dotted lines flowing across a deep reddish-brown and black background. Broad vertical bands of gently undulating and zigzagging parallel lines move across the canvas, creating a shimmering optical effect like wind-blown sand dunes or rippling desert light. The restrained palette and rhythmic patterns give the painting a powerful sense of movement and depth.

Maw Maw Yntjipi, 1999

Size
183 × 152 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Fine Art + Indigenous Art, Sydney, 18 April 2018, Lot 54

Provenance
Painted at Kintore in 1999. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Sydney. Sotheby’s, Melbourne, 31 July 2006, Lot 119. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$50,000 AUD

Tingari Cycle at Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999. A wide horizontal painting composed of vertical ribbons of flowing dotted lines in rich red ochre, white, charcoal black and soft yellow. Each band gently twists and narrows to form elongated diamond and oval shapes, creating a shimmering curtain-like effect across the entire canvas. The repeating linear patterns evoke rippling sand dunes, ceremonial pathways and the changing light of the Western Desert.

Tingari Cycle at Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 1999

Size
152 × 182.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Aboriginal and Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 24 March 2010, Lot 134

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne. Private Collection, USA.

Price Realised
$15,000 AUD

Untitled (Kanapilya) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999, synthetic polymer paint on linen with finely painted white parallel Tingari lines flowing across a dark ground.

Untitled (Kanapilya), 1999

Size
122 × 91 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 29 July 2003, Lot 113

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra for Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, San Francisco.

Price Realised
$6,000 AUD

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Rockhole Site of Tjuntulpul) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999. A horizontal painting in soft pink, pale terracotta and white. Thousands of tiny white dots form flowing parallel lines that meander across the canvas, creating broad zigzags, rounded bends and angular pathways. The subtle tonal variations produce a shimmering, almost hypnotic surface resembling wind-shaped desert sand viewed from above.

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Rockhole Site of Tjuntulpul), 1999

Size
91 × 137 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, Important Australian and Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 7 June 2016, Lot 128

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. The Thomas Vroom Collection, The Netherlands.

Price Realised

$4,200 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999. A horizontal painting in warm ochre, cream and soft brown. Dozens of concentric circles of varying sizes are arranged across the canvas, linked by straight parallel lines and interspersed with triangular and oval motifs. The orderly geometric pattern resembles an aerial map of interconnected ceremonial sites, while the fine dotted outlines create a gentle shimmering effect.

Untitled, 1999

Size
137 × 91 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian, International + Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 26 November 2014, Lot 147

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Aboriginal and Pacific Art, Sydney. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$1,500 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 1999. A small square painting in warm desert colours of reddish brown, ochre, cream and white. The entire surface is covered with gently undulating horizontal rows of large white dots separated by narrower ochre and brown bands. Small almond-shaped openings appear between the lines, creating a subtle shimmering pattern that resembles rippling sand dunes or light moving across the desert.

Untitled, 1999

Size
55 × 61 cm

Medium
Acrylic on canvas

Sale Details
Leonard Joel, The Thomas Vroom Collection, Melbourne, 26 February 2017, Lot 16

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT9907203).

Price Realised
$500 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 2000-2001

Tingari – West of Lake Mackay by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2000. A large vertical painting in deep reddish-brown and white. Thousands of tiny white dots form flowing vertical bands that gently weave from side to side across the entire canvas. Elongated diamond-shaped openings appear at regular intervals between the lines, creating a shimmering optical effect like rippling sand, woven fibres or heat haze across the Western Desert.

Tingari – West of Lake Mackay, 2000

Size
151.5 × 123 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 11 October 2022, Lot 29

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory (Cat. No. WT20000175). Private Collection, Western Australia.

Price Realised
$18,000 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2000. A horizontal painting in soft cream, pale ochre and warm golden brown. Thousands of tiny dots form flowing parallel lines that ripple gently across the surface, creating subtle zigzags, diamonds and meandering pathways. The delicate monochrome palette gives the painting a luminous, almost mist-like appearance, while the shimmering lines resemble wind-blown sand or sunlight moving across the desert.

Claypan Site of Murmur, 2000

Size
152.5 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 26 July 2010, Lot 66

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra in 2000. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne. Private Collection, USA.

Price Realised
$9,500 AUD

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2000. A horizontal painting in black, cream and warm ochre. Thousands of tiny cream dots form gently undulating horizontal lines that flow across a deep black background. Small almond-shaped openings appear rhythmically between the lines, creating a shimmering optical effect like wind rippling across desert sand or reflections moving over water at dusk.

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 2000

Size
107 × 121 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian and International Fine Art; Important Aboriginal and Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 27 November 2013, Lot 181

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$3,200 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2000. A vertical painting in black, white and golden ochre. Twelve large concentric circles dominate the composition, arranged in a neat grid across a warm ochre background. Fine white and ochre lines radiate between the circles, forming small diamond-shaped patterns that create a balanced, rhythmic design resembling an aerial map of connected ceremonial sites.

Untitled, 2000

Size
91 × 61 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Leonard Joel, Fine Art, Melbourne, 18 March 2025, Lot 86

Provenance
The Artist. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Kozminsky Gallery, Melbourne. Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$3,000 AUD

Tingari at Wilkinkarra by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2000. A horizontal painting in rich reddish-brown, white and ochre. The centre is filled with dense vertical bands of finely dotted white lines that ripple gently from top to bottom. On the left, elongated oval motifs are stacked in vertical columns, while on the right, concentric circles are linked by straight pathways and triangular forms. The contrast between flowing linear patterns and traditional ceremonial symbols creates a striking sense of rhythm and movement.

Tingari at Wilkinkarra, 2000

Size
183 × 122 cm

Medium
Acrylic on canvas

Sale Details
Leonard Joel, The Art and Book Auction, Sydney, 19 September 2010, Lot 145

Provenance
Gundooee Aboriginal Art, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$1,600 AUD

Ngulkingnapalka, the Claypan Site of Lake Mackay by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2001. A monumental painting in soft golden ochre, cream and pale white. Thousands of tiny dots form delicate vertical bands that gently ripple from top to bottom across the entire canvas. The flowing lines weave around small diamond-shaped openings, creating a luminous shimmering surface that resembles sunlight reflecting across a vast claypan or wind moving over the desert.

Ngulkingnapalka, the Claypan Site of Lake Mackay, 2001

Size
244 × 183 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Aboriginal and Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 24 March 2010, Lot 91

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne. Private Collection, USA.

Price Realised
$24,000 AUD

Tingari, Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2001. A large vertical painting in vivid coral pink, salmon and deep charcoal. Thick black parallel lines ripple from top to bottom across the canvas, weaving around elongated diamond and oval shapes. The bold contrast between the warm pink background and the dark flowing lines creates a striking optical effect, like shifting desert dunes or heat haze seen from above.

Tingari, Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 2001

Size
158 × 122 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers, Art | Australian, Aboriginal & International, Sydney, 28 November 2022, Lot 6153

Provenance
Catalogue No. 001AB.

Price Realised
$2,400 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2001. A vertical painting in deep reddish-brown and bright white. Thick white parallel lines flow from top to bottom in gently undulating ribbons, repeatedly narrowing into elongated diamond and eye-shaped forms. The strong contrast between the white lines and dark background creates a bold shimmering effect reminiscent of woven fibres, desert grasses or wind moving across sand.

Untitled, 2001

Size
91 × 61 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Lawson~Menzies (now trading as Menzies), October Paintings Sale, Sydney, 16 October 2005, Lot 68

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0106062).

Price Realised
$850 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 2002-2003

Tingari by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A nearly square painting in black and white. Thousands of tiny white dots form closely spaced vertical lines that flow from top to bottom across a deep black background. The lines gently bend and ripple, with one broad undulating band sweeping through the right side of the composition. The minimalist palette and rhythmic patterns create a shimmering optical effect like curtains of rain, rippling water or wind moving across the desert.

Tingari, 2002

Size
122 × 107 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 4 April 2023, Lot 11

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0212165). Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne. Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$20,000 AUD

Tingari Men Camped at Marawa, West of Lake Mackay by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A large horizontal painting in black and white with subtle grey tones. Thousands of fine white dotted lines ripple across a dark background in broad horizontal bands. Four elongated oval and rectangular ceremonial motifs emerge from the flowing lines near the centre, while the entire surface shimmers like wind-blown sand, rippling water or heat haze across the desert.

Tingari Men Camped at Marawa, West of Lake Mackay, 2002

Size
182.5 × 152.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 31 October 2006, Lot 32

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0208322). Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$16,500 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A large horizontal painting in warm reddish-brown and cream. Fine white dotted lines ripple across the canvas, forming four large stepped rectangular motifs in the corners and a single concentric circle at the centre. The flowing lines weave around these ceremonial symbols, creating a shimmering pattern that resembles wind moving across sand or water flowing through the desert.

Untitled, 2002

Size
152 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 5 May 2026, Lot 17

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Queensland.

Price Realised
$12,000 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A wide horizontal painting in soft terracotta, salmon pink and pale cream. Hundreds of fine parallel dotted lines run across the canvas from left to right with only subtle changes in direction, creating a tranquil, shimmering surface. Gentle bends and flowing contours suggest wind passing over desert sand or the rippled surface of a claypan under changing light.

Untitled, 2002

Size
122 × 152.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Leonard Joel, Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 24 February 2021, Lot 2

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0201111). Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$7,000 AUD

Tingari by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A large horizontal painting in warm reddish-brown and cream. The surface is divided into dozens of irregular rectangular blocks arranged like a mosaic. Inside each block, fine cream dotted lines spiral inward to form rectangular labyrinths of varying sizes and orientations. The repeating geometric patterns create a rhythmic aerial view of interconnected ceremonial places across the Western Desert.

Tingari, 2002

Size
151.5 × 120 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Leonard Joel, Fine Art, Melbourne, 25 March 2014, Lot 176

Provenance
Accompanied by an Aboriginal Australia Art and Culture, Alice Springs, Certificate of Authenticity.

Price Realised
$1,200 AUD

Tingari by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2002. A horizontal painting in warm terracotta red and cream. Eight large rectangular motifs fill the canvas in two rows of four, each built from concentric cream dotted lines spiralling towards a central rectangle. The bold geometric forms resemble aerial views of ceremonial places or desert rockholes, creating a simple yet powerful rhythmic composition.

Tingari, 2002

Size
117 × 61 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Philips Auctions Australia, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 18 September 2011, Lot 39

Provenance
Western Desert Aboriginal Art. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and photographic documentation.

Price Realised
$1,100 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 2003-2004

Kalparti by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2003. A monumental horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of fine white dotted lines ripple across a dark background, folding into broad stepped pathways, angular bends and elongated rectangular forms. The flowing lines create a powerful shimmering optical effect, resembling shifting sand dunes, carved ceremonial designs or the contours of the Western Desert seen from above.

Kalparti, 2003

Size
153 × 183 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, London, 14 March 2018, Lot 53

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia, in 2003 for Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. The Dennis and Debra Scholl Collection, Miami.

Exhibited
No Boundaries: Aboriginal Australian Contemporary Abstract Painting, Nevada Museum of Art and touring venues, 2015–2016.

Price Realised
$90,000 AUD

Marawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2003. A square painting in rich terracotta red and cream. Thousands of fine cream dots form broad parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in flowing zigzags, curves and angular turns. The interlocking lines create a shimmering optical effect like wind-blown desert sand, while the warm earthy colours give the painting a sense of depth, movement and radiant heat.

Marawa, 2003

Size
122 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 25 March 2026, Lot 47

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Paris.

Price Realised
$50,000 AUD

Kalparti by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2003. A large horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of tiny white dots form tightly packed parallel lines flowing across a dark background. The lines bend into broad stepped pathways, elongated rectangles and angular turns, creating a shimmering maze-like pattern that resembles carved ceremonial designs, desert landforms and ancient pathways seen from above.

Kalparti, 2003

Size
183 × 152.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s Australia, Important Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 28 May 2013, Lot 99

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0310022). Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$16,000 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2003. A wide horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of tiny white dots form flowing parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in broad waves and sharp angular turns. The lines merge and separate to create shimmering zigzags and undulating bands, giving the impression of wind moving across sand dunes or the contours of a vast desert landscape viewed from above.

Kalparti, 2003

Size
183 × 152.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s Australia, Important Aboriginal & Oceanic Art, Melbourne, 28 May 2013, Lot 99

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0310022). Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$16,000 AUD

Untitled

Size
137 × 91.2 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 20 October 2008, Lot 225

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra in 2003. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0307173). Private Collection.

Price Realised
$6,000 AUD

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2004. A large horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of tiny white dots form uninterrupted horizontal lines flowing across the canvas. The lines converge from all four sides towards a narrow central opening, creating two immense triangular forms that appear to fold into the centre. The subtle changes in direction create a hypnotic optical illusion reminiscent of wind sweeping across an immense desert plain or a vast aerial view of the landscape.

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 2004

Size
183 × 121 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 25 May 2022, Lot 74

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane. Private Collection, Brisbane. Bonhams, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 22 April 2021, Lot 19. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$90,000 AUD

Marawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2004. A monumental horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of tiny white dots form dense parallel lines that weave across the canvas in sweeping curves, sharp angles and interlocking pathways. A broad horizontal band of stepped geometric motifs runs through the centre, while the upper and lower sections undulate like wind-blown sand dunes. The shimmering monochrome surface creates a powerful optical illusion of movement across the desert landscape.

Marawa, 2004

Size
182 × 242 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 18 March 2020, Lot 19

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne. Private Collection, Sydney.

Price Realised
$70,000 AUD

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2004. A monumental horizontal painting in black, white and soft grey. Thousands of tiny white dots form perfectly aligned horizontal bands that sweep across the canvas. The lines converge from each corner towards a narrow opening at the centre, creating two immense triangular forms and a powerful illusion of depth, like looking across an endless salt lake or desert plain shimmering in the heat.

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 2004

Size
183 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 22 April 2021, Lot 19

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane. Private Collection, Brisbane.

Exhibited
Aboriginal Art, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, in association with Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, 1–23 June 2007.

Price Realised
$38,000 AUD

Marrawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2004. A square painting in warm golden ochre, burnt orange, black and white. Hundreds of gently undulating horizontal bands sweep across the canvas like waves. Each band is formed from rows of tiny white and ochre dots separated by thin black lines, creating a shimmering optical effect. Small diamond-shaped motifs appear intermittently within the flowing pattern, evoking rippling sand dunes, moving water and the vast landscape of the Western Desert.

Marrawa, 2004

Size
84 × 84 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Gibson’s, Australian & International Art, Melbourne, 27 October 2024, Lot 153

Provenance
Yanda Aboriginal Art, Melbourne (accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity). Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$1,200 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 2005-2009

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Lake Site of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay)) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2005. A monumental painting in glowing orange, burnt ochre and deep brown. Thousands of fine parallel lines radiate inward from all four corners towards a narrow rectangular opening at the centre, creating a dramatic illusion of depth. The warm colours shimmer across the surface like sunlight over desert sand or the vast salt flats of Lake Mackay seen from above.

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Lake Site of Wilkinkarra), 2005

Size
183 × 153 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Bonhams, The Thomas Vroom Collection, Sydney, 6 September 2015, Lot 73

Provenance
Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs.

Price Realised
$26,000 AUD

Marawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2005. A square painting in glowing golden ochre, burnt orange and black. Thousands of bright ochre dots form broad parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in sharp angles, flowing curves and stepped pathways. The dark background intensifies the luminous orange pattern, creating a shimmering optical effect reminiscent of desert sand illuminated by late afternoon sunlight.

Marawa, 2005

Size
122 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 23 May 2023, Lot 54

Provenance
Painted for Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs, in 2005 (Cat. No. WT0510127). Private Collection.

Price Realised
$25,000 AUD

Marawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2005. A square painting in glowing golden ochre, deep crimson and burnt orange. Thousands of tiny ochre dots form broad parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in flowing curves, sharp zigzags and stepped pathways. The warm colours pulse against one another, creating a shimmering optical effect like desert sand glowing beneath the afternoon sun while revealing hidden geometric forms within the landscape.

Marawa, 2005

Size
121 × 122 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Deutscher and Hackett, Aboriginal Art from the Luczo Family Collection, USA, Melbourne, 19 October 2016, Lot 38

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra in 2005. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. AP Bond Gallery, Adelaide. The Luczo Family Collection, USA.

Price Realised
$17,000 AUD

Untitled (Designs Associated with the Swamp Site of Marawa West of Wilkinkarra) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2005. A square painting in black and creamy white. Thousands of tiny white dots form tightly packed parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in broad curves, sharp angles and stepped geometric pathways. The lines converge and separate to create hidden triangular and rectangular forms, producing a shimmering optical effect reminiscent of wind-shaped desert dunes seen from above.

Untitled, 2003

Size
213 × 122 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Davidson Auctions, Australian & International Art, Sydney, 12 October 2025, Lot 182

Provenance
Yanda Aboriginal Art (Cat. No. 200305). Ken Hinds Cultural Heritage Collection, Queensland.

Price Realised
$9,000 AUD

Tingari Cycle by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2005. An abstract Aboriginal painting composed of thousands of fine ochre-yellow dots arranged in continuous lines across a deep black background. The lines flow through broad angular pathways, sharp turns and stepped geometric forms, creating a maze-like pattern with a powerful sense of movement and depth. The strong contrast between the glowing ochre dots and the black ground gives the painting a luminous, almost pulsating appearance.

Tingari Cycle, 2005

Size
181 × 122 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Philips Auctions Australia, Aboriginal Art, Melbourne, 18 September 2011, Lot 13

Provenance
Australian Contemporary Aboriginal Art. Accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity and photographic documentation.

Price Realised
$2,200 AUD

Tingari by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2006. An abstract Aboriginal painting filled with thousands of fine cream and pale ochre dotted lines flowing across a rich red-ochre background. The lines weave continuously through sweeping curves, rounded forms, sharp zigzags and angular turns, creating a complex maze-like pattern with no empty spaces. The warm red, cream and soft ochre colours produce a shimmering optical effect that suggests shifting desert sandhills viewed from above.

Tingari, 2006

Size
150 × 120 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 20 October 2020, Lot 31

Provenance
Waterhole Art, New South Wales (Cat. No. HS043). Private Collection, New South Wales.

Price Realised
$26,000 AUD

Untitled by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2007. A monumental abstract Aboriginal painting in deep chocolate brown and warm burnt ochre. Thousands of extremely fine parallel lines sweep diagonally across the canvas, bending sharply to form broad angular pathways that intersect and flow around one another. The subtle contrast between the dark ground and ochre lines creates a quiet shimmering effect, while the composition resembles an aerial view of desert sandhills, ridges and ancestral pathways stretching across Country.

Untitled, 2007

Size
183 × 244 cm

Medium
Acrylic on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, London, 21 September 2016, Lot 90

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra in March 2007. Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs (Cat. No. WT0704010). The Luczo Family Collection, USA.

Price Realised
$250,000 AUD

Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri’s values 2009-2017

Mamultjunkunya by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2009. A monumental abstract Aboriginal painting in black, charcoal grey and white. Thousands of fine white parallel lines flow continuously across the dark surface, bending into broad sweeping curves, sharp angular turns and geometric pathways that interlock across the canvas. The tightly controlled linework creates a striking optical shimmer, suggesting an aerial view of desert landforms, ancient travel routes and shifting sandhills.

Mamultjunkunya, 2009

Size
183 × 244 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, London, 14 March 2018, Lot 55

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia, in 2009 for Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. The Dennis and Debra Scholl Collection, Miami.

Exhibited
dOCUMENTA 13, Kassel, Germany, 9 June – 16 September 2012. No Boundaries: Aboriginal Australian Contemporary Abstract Painting, Nevada Museum of Art and touring venues, 2015–2016.

Price Realised
$150,000 AUD

Tingari Site West of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, c.2010. A large abstract Aboriginal painting in black, charcoal grey and white. Thousands of tiny white dots form continuous parallel lines that sweep across the canvas in broad curves, sharp zigzags and stepped geometric pathways. The intricate network creates interlocking angular forms and flowing corridors that resemble an aerial view of desert sandhills, ceremonial routes and ancient tracks. The high contrast between the bright white dots and the dark background creates a striking shimmering optical effect.

.Tingari Site West of Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), c.2010

Size
122 × 210 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art), Indigenous Fine Art Auction, Sydney, 23 June 2020, Lot 57

Provenance
Aboriginal Australia Art and Culture, Northern Territory (Cat. No. AS05). Private Collection, Northern Territory.

Literature
Comparable work illustrated in Papunya Tula: Genesis and Genius, p. 102.

Price Realised
$24,000 AUD

My Grandfather's Country by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2010. An abstract Aboriginal painting in glowing golden ochre, burnt orange and deep reddish-brown. Thousands of evenly spaced ochre dots form continuous parallel lines that sweep diagonally across the canvas, converging into sharp angles, zigzags and broad geometric pathways. The warm earth colours create a luminous, shimmering surface that evokes the ridges, valleys and ancient ceremonial routes of the Western Desert when viewed from above.

My Grandfather’s Country, 2010

Size
122 × 122.5 cm

Medium
Acrylic on linen

Sale Details
Lawsons, Fine Aboriginal Art & Artefacts, Sydney, 15 November 2018, Lot 540

Provenance
MK Gallery (Cat. No. 16718).

Price Realised
$2,400 AUD

Marawa by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2012. A monumental abstract Aboriginal painting in black, charcoal grey and white. Thousands of finely painted white parallel lines sweep across the dark surface in broad curves, sharp angular turns and stepped geometric pathways. The flowing lines converge around a small central diamond-shaped motif before expanding outward again, creating a powerful sense of movement, depth and optical shimmer reminiscent of desert sandhills and ancestral pathways seen from above.

Marawa, 2012

Size
153 × 183 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen

Sale Details
Sotheby’s, Aboriginal Art, New York, 13 December 2019, Lot 32

Provenance
Painted at Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia, in 2012 for Papunya Tula Artists, Alice Springs. Private Collection, Perth.

Price Realised
$120,000 AUD

Grandfather's Country by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2017. A monumental abstract Aboriginal painting in soft pink, dusty rose, pale terracotta and cream. Thousands of extremely fine parallel lines flow continuously across the vast canvas, weaving through broad curves, gentle folds, zigzags and angular pathways. The delicate colour transitions create a luminous, almost atmospheric surface, while the intricate linework resembles an aerial view of rolling desert sandhills and ancestral pathways stretching across Country.

Grandfather’s Country, 2017

Size
312 × 208 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Sale Details
Gibson’s, Australian & International Art, Melbourne, 29 October 2023, Lot 159

Provenance
Justin Turner, Sydney. Art Index, Sydney. Private Collection, Melbourne.

Price Realised
$42,000 AUD

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, 2017. Monumental black and white Aboriginal painting composed of thousands of meticulously painted parallel lines that radiate from a small central motif into broad triangular and curving forms. The uninterrupted linework creates powerful optical movement, evoking aerial views of desert sandhills, ancestral pathways and the vast landscape surrounding Lake Mackay.

Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay), 2017

Size
200 × 243.5 cm

Medium
Synthetic polymer paint on linen

Sale Details
Menzies, Important Australian & International Art, Melbourne, 20 November 2024, Lot 60

Provenance
Wati Kutjara Art Centre, Northern Territory. Private Collection, Canberra.

Price Realised
$60,000 AUD

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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.

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