The World’s Local Fine Art

Jimmy Jampijinpa Robertson Tjampitjinpa c.1944-2002

Jimmy Jampijinpa Robertson (c. 1944–2002) was a distinguished Warlpiri artist and a founding member of the mid-1980s art movement in Lajamanu. Robertson served as a founding director of the Warnayaka Art Centre

Renowned for his vibrant, bold use of colour and charismatic presence on the international stage, he was widely acknowledged as an exceptional painter. His work is celebrated for its contemporary style and its significant contribution to the broader Australian contemporary art movement. 

Robertson’s art gained international acclaim and was showcased in landmark exhibitions in Paris, notably at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris. He remains one of the few Aboriginal artists to have work acquired by the UNESCO collection. 

Robertson’s paintings possess a powerful physical presence that rivals the most significant works of global contemporary art.

The painting Water Dreaming (1989) is widely considered Jimmy Robertson Jampijinpa's most significant work, gaining international recognition for its "sheer physical presence" and being officially designated a "museum quality masterwork" in the Aboriginal Artists Dictionary of Biographies (p. 78).
 

Jimmy Robertson Jampijinpa Biography

Jimmy Jampijinpa Robertson (c. 1944–2002)

Jimmy Robertson is remembered by some in Paris as an amazing and colourful individual, who attended the very first exhibition of the Lajamanu artists at the Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi in Melbourne in 1987. 

Robertson is also remembered by some artists in Paris for taking a trunk full of boomerangs and setting up a roadside stall on one of the main Paris boulevards.

The history of the Warnayaka Art Centre is a remarkable story of cultural resilience and the adaptation of ancient traditions to the modern world.

Origins and First Contact

The centre was founded in the mid-1980s by "desert walkers"—Warlpiri people who had spent their early lives in the bush and could still remember their first contact with Europeans. For these elders, art was a primary way to record and transmit knowledge of land, law, and ceremony. 

The Move to Canvas (1985–1986) 

While the Warlpiri had practiced art through body painting, sand mosaics, and wooden carvings for millennia, they were initially hesitant to transfer sacred Jukurrpa (Dreaming) stories to permanent mediums for a Western audience. 

• A Turning Point: In 1985, after extensive communal discussion, elders agreed that painting could serve as a vital tool for education and cultural preservation.

• The John Quinn Course (1986): An adult educator, John Quinn, provided the first paints and canvases. Before materials were widely available, artists famously painted on repurposed materials, including Masonite boards from derelict houses using house paints and PVAs. 

Growth and Recognition

The movement rapidly gained momentum. By 1988, a formal artists’ company was established, and Lajamanu works were being exhibited internationally. 

• Formal Founding: The Warnayaka Art Centre was officially established in 1991.

• Institutional Acclaim: Major institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) began acquiring large-scale Lajamanu panels as early as 1989. 

Modern Evolution

Today, Warnayaka is an Aboriginal-owned social enterprise representing approximately 160 artists. It has evolved to embrace new forms of expression: 

• Generational Shift: The centre is now largely run by the children and grandchildren of the founding artists, ensuring the survival of the Warlpiri Ngalia Laws.

• New Mediums: While traditional dot and line work remains central, younger artists are exploring digital art and contemporary colour palettes that bridge tradition with global modern art. 

Works of art live for generations, constantly reborn in the minds of the beholders to bring new meanings, new dreams, new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Be part of this magic world of amazing fine art from the ocean of tranquillity to concur the heart, mind and soul.

The vision of Galeria Aniela is to increase the awareness of Australian artists cultural contribution. Through hard work and dedication, in a peaceful manner, we strive for high ideals to create a better future for the arts.

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