B. 1920–2012

Tiger Palpatja is a Pitjantjara artist who was born near Nyapari, north-west of South Australia. He grew up with a nomadic lifestyle before his family relocated to a Presbyterian mission and sheep station in Ernabella, now identified as Pukatja community. In the 1970s, Palpatja moved again with his young family to Amata, closer to his Country, where he developed a reputation for his ‘punu’ (carved wooden objects) and eventually became a traditional healer for the community. 

It was not until age eighty-five that Palpatja started painting. Despite this late start however, he quickly emerged as one of the leading artists of the APY Lands, particularly renowned for his depictions of the Wanampi creation story. He was a four-time finalist in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (2006, 2010, 2011 and winner for 2005) and is extensively represented across public collections, including at the National Gallery of Victoria, National Gallery of Australia and Art Gallery of New South Wales.