Johnny was born circa 1930 near Tjungimanta, north-east of Kiwirrkura. Johnny’s family lived a nomadic life and travelled between the Kiwirrkura Community & Lake MacKay. In the 1950’s Johnny and his wife moved to the Balgo community further north. Johnny has become a well-known artist from the Warlayriti Artists Group.
In 1957 Johnny met Donald Thompson, north of Lake McKay, and as a result featured in the book ‘Bindibu Country’. Johnny moved to Haasts Bluff, and then Papunya Tula in late 1959 when it was established. He commenced painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1997, and now lives at Kiwirrkura.
Johnny depicts the ‘Tingari Dreaming’, which he learned during his travels. He combines unusual and subtle colours to create his concentric circle and line designs.
Collections
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Exhibitions
1997 to present – Alice Springs, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane and Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, Poland
2005 – Solo exhibition, Melbourne
