Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa
D.O.B
c.1950
Birthsite
nr. Kiwirrkurra
Language
Pintupi
Historical
Kenny is the son of Naata Nungarrayi and younger brother of artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. He spent most of his early years around Wilkinkarra. His family was taken to Papunya in 1963 by one of the Welfare Branch Patrols headed by Jeremy Long. Kenny later relocated to Balgo situated on the northern perimeter of the Great Sandy Desert. Here he joined other Pintupi people who had also chosen this location. He later moved back to Papunya and again in 1981 to the newly established community of Walungurru
Painting
Kenny started painting in 1988 and along with his older brother Ronnie Tjampitjinpa he maintains a strong commitment to producing designs that relate directly to the tribal patterns and symbols used during ceremony. These linear geometric designs were used for decorating wooden implements such as shields and boomerangs as well as sacred stone implements known as “tjuringa”. Theses are important items used to exchange knowledge during initiation ceremonies.
Exhibitions
1999 “Twenty-five Years and Beyond” Flinders University Art Museum, S.A. 2000 Winner 17th National Aboriginal Art Award. 2001 “Pintupi” Alice Springs
Represented
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
