Yamangara Thomas Murray

Mr. Murray was born out bush at a clay pan in the Warburton ranges around 1934. His family walked around Western Australia for many years during his childhood living in traditional camps. He speaks both Ngaanyatjarra and Pitjantjatjara languages. Throughout his long life, Yamangara has worked many jobs and seen many changes in both culture and country. As a young adult he worked on various stations mustering sheep and cattle to make money, and later was employed as a guide helping Western mining prospectors find mineral deposits on Ngaanyatjarra lands. A proficient kulata maker, Mr. Murray is relatively new to painting telling stories of his ngurra as well as traditional mens tjukurpa of the Central and Western Deserts. He has one son and travels widely east to west between Warburton and Pipalyatjara communities. He now lives primarily in Kalka with his partner, Ninuku and Papulankutja painter Jennifer Mintaya Connelly Ward. He is the oldest artist working at Ninuku Arts.