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REGION: PAPUNYA – NORTHERN TERRITORY LANGUAGE: ANMATYERRE B. 1932 c. – 2002 |
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redrock gallery is honoured and proud to presnt the great late Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri arguably the most famous male Central Western Desert artist, who from 1971 until his death in 2002 dominated the Aboriginal art scene. Hailed as the master and pioneer of Central Western Dot painting, Clifford merged the traditional with the contemporary creating artworks which moved beyond their canvas speaking to all who gaze upon them. In 2007 this astonishing result "Warlugulong" painting sold for $2.4 million at Sotheby's Auction House assuring the position of being the most collectable Aboriginal Painter of All Time.
Born at Napperby Station, north-west of Alice Springs, he is the youngest son of ‘One Pound’ Jimmy Tjungurrayi and Long Rose Nangala [both deceased]. Similar to many Aboriginal artists of this time, he began his working career as a stockman on various cattle stations established on his ancestral country and later was employed in the construction of the Papunya settlement. An established wood-carver and a skilled painter, in the early 1970’s Clifford along with his brother Time Leura Tjapaltjarri joined the ‘painting men’ which soon transformed into the Papunya Tula Artists. In the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s, Clifford Possum was Chairman of this group and in 1990 presented the Queen Elizabeth II with one of his paintings.
Although married and father to Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi and Michelle Possum Nungurrayi, Clifford Possum dedicated his time to creating extraordinary three-dimensional artworks widening the circles of knowledge relating to Anmatyerre history, Aboriginal and national history.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS: 1975-83 Peter Stuyvesant Cultural Foundation 1980 Pacific Asia Museum, Los Angeles, USA. 1981 Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia 1983 Sao Paulo biennale, Sao Paulo. 1985 Dots and Circles, Melbourne, Australia 1986 The Dreamtime Today, Kintore, N.T. Australia 1988 Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri Paintings 1973-1986, Retrospective Exhibition, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, England. 1988-1990 Dreamings. The Art of Aboriginal Australia. Travelling Exhibition. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Melbourne & Adelaide. 1991 Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, USA 1993 Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Australia 1994 National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia 1998 - redrock gallery Bourke Street, Melbourne Australia: Opening Group Exhibition 1999 Flinders Art Museum, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia Tjinytjilpa, Embassy of Australia, Washington, USA. 2004 March 31st – 19th April redrock gallery,Southgate, Melbourne Australia: CLIFFORD POSSUM TJAPALTJARRI Exhibition 2000-2006 redrock gallery, Group Exhibitions and Collections, Melbourne, Australia 2007 June redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, Gallery Grand Opening Beijing, P.R China 2007 July redrock gallery, Group Exhibition China World Exhibition Centre, Beijing P.R China 2007 Auguest redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, Grand Hyatt Hotel,Beijing, P.R China 2007 November redrock gallery, Group Exhibition, International Art Expo, Beijing, P.R China 2008 July redrock gallery,Beijing, 2nd Gallery Opening, Group Exhibition, Beijing, P.R China
SELECTED COLLECTIONS: ■ National Gallery of Australia, Canberra ■ National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne ■ National Museum of Australia, Canberra ■ Robert Holmes a Court Collection, Perth, WA. ■ University of Western Australia, Perth ■ Parliament House, Canberra ■ Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD ■ Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney ■ Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA. ■ Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, N.T. ■ Flinders Art Museum, Adelaide, S.A. ■ Mem Aziz Private Collections, Melbourne
AWARDS & COMMISSIONS: ■ 1983 Alice Springs Art Prize ■ 2002 Order of Australia ■ Strehlow Research Foundation, Alice Springs, N.T.- 2 large paintings ■ Alice Springs Airport, Alice Springs, N.T. – 1 large painting ■ Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, N.T.- 1 mural design |
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