Culturally and historically significant Papunya Boards join QAGOMA collection

The Government is pleased to support QAGOMA's acquisition of these culturally and historically significant Papunya boards from the Central Desert region, painted in the first critical years of Australia's contemporary Aboriginal art movement.

QAGOMA is dedicated to showcasing historical and contemporary Indigenous Australian art and reflecting the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. This acquisition guarantees this important set of paintings are retained in Australia and can be showcased for locals and visitors alike to study and enjoy.

Purchased from the Ian Rogers Collection in Melbourne, the seven boards represent the work of the founding artists of the Papunya Tula Art Movement in the Northern Territory, which began in 1971. Collections of this nature and quality are rare, making this an exceptional acquisition for QAGOMA.

The seven Papunya board paintings are:

1. Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Untitled (Euro Dreaming Ceremony), 1972
2. Uta Uta Tjangala, Tjitiji Kutjarra at Yawarrankunya (Two Boys Dreaming), 1972
3. Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula, Women's ceremony in a cave, 1971
4. Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Bushfire Corroboree, 1973
5. Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, 'Tingari' Cycle Dreaming Journey, 1972
6. Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa, Untitled (Goanna Story), 1971
7. Charlie Tarawa (Wartuma) Tjungurrayi, The Importance of Fire, 1973.

The acquisition of the Papunya Boards for QAGOMA is supported through the Australian Government's National Cultural Heritage Account. QAGOMA will contribute $400,000.

The National Cultural Heritage Account helps keep items of cultural significance in Australia so they can be preserved and made available to the public. Public cultural organisations can apply for funding to purchase, preserve and provide permanent public access to these items.

For more information, see our National Cultural Heritage Account page.