Artist Profile

Michael Nelson (Minjina) Jagamarra

Michael Nelson Jagamarra was born in 1946 at Pikilyi Region, Vaughan Spring in the Northern Territory. He first saw white men at Mt Doreen station when he was young.

Michael lived at Haasts Bluff with the same family group as Long Jack Phillipus Tjakammara for a while. To go to school with European education his parent took him to Yuendumu later on. When he was young he left school and started working as driving trucks an droving cattle. Also was in the Army for a while.

Michael Nelson Jagamarra later went back to Yuendumu and married his current wife. He worked for government store and saw artwork of other artists there. Later on in 1983 Michael started painting regularly.

Both Michael's parents were from Warlpiri tribe. His father was one of the elders of the tribe and also a "Medicine Man" in the Yuendumu community.

Michael Nelson Jagamarra won the National Aboriginal Art Award in September 1984 and in 1987. One of his very large painting (8.2 m long) is installed in the foyer of the Sydney Opera House.

In 1988 He designed the mosaic in forecourt of the New Parliament House in Canberra and was introduced to Queen Elizabeth II at the opening ceremony.

Exhibitions:

1985 National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

1986 Biennale of Sydney

1987, 1998 Gallery Gabriella Pizzi, Melbourne

1988 Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

1988 Asia Society Gallery, New York, USA

1989 John Weber Gallery - New York, Centro Cultural Arte Contemporaneo - Mexico City - Mexico, Australian National Gallery, Canberra

1992, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs

1993 Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth

1999 Embassy of Australia, Washington, USA

2001 Icons of Australian Aboriginal Art, Singapore

2002 Gallerie Commines - Paris, Australian Embassy, Paris

Collections:

National Gallery of Australia - Canberra, National Gallery of Victoria - Melbourne, Parliament House - Canberra, Art Gallery of N.S.W. - Sydney, Australian Museum - Sydney, Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, Art Gallery of Western Australia - Perth, Art Gallery of South Australia - Adelaide, Araluen Arts Centre - Alice Springs, Art Gallery of Queensland - Brisbane, South Australian Museum - Adelaide.

Awards:

1984 National Aboriginal Art Award

1993 Australia Medal for services to Aboriginal Art

2001 finalist in 18th Telstra NATSIAA

 Michael Nelson (Minjina) Jagamarra

You are welcome to visit the art gallery to view Michael Nelson Jagamarra and other aboriginal artists artwork on Linen/Canvas, Coolamon, Didgeridoo, Boomerang and Pottery at: KARLANGU ABORIGINAL ART CENTRE, 47 York Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia