Historical: George was born in the desert close to Wala Wala, Kiwirrkurra, WA. He and his family walked to Papunya via Mount Doreen and Yuendumu in 1962. He has lived at various locations including, Yai Yai Creek, Warawa, and Mt Liebig. George now resides at Kintore with his family. He is the younger brother of Naata and Nancy Nungarrayi (Deceased)

Painting: George began painting at Papunya around 1976, since then his painting style has focused on the subject of Tingari, the sacred designs that relate to the activities of ancestral beings. The locations of these activities remain as important ceremony sites for the Pintupi people. These sites include Wala Wala, Kiwirrkura, Kulkuta, Karku, Kilpina and Wilkinkarra (Lake MacKay).

George paints in a manner that reflects the way that his forefathers would have carved and decorated shields, boomerangs and spear throwers. The geometric patterns creating a shimmer effect in his paintings represent the power of a strong protector for his family group, the two tones of colour flashing before the viewer and distorting vision is designed to repel attacks from rival tribal groups looking to steal territory or often women. The works also evoke the movement of the desert landscape, heat haze, shifting sands and the creeping flood water after rains filling the clay pans.

Represented:

National Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Robert Holmes a’ Court Collection
Genesis and Genius, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Groninger Museum, the Netherlands
University of Virginia, USA
Musee des Arts d’Afrique et de’Oceanie, Paris