Michael Jagamara Nelson b. 1949 Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), NT

Also known as Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
  • Artist (Painter)
One of Australia's most celebrated Aboriginal artists who started painting for Papunya Tula Artists in 1983, and went on to achieve both national and international acclaim.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1994
Name
Michael Jagamara Nelson
Also known as Michael Nelson Tjakamarra
Birth date
c.1949
Birth place
Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), NT
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • Papunya, NT
  • Yuendumu, Northern Territory, Yuendumu, NT
  • Haasts Bluff, NT
Other Occupation
  • Council worker
  • Storeman
  • Army employee
  • Drover
  • Truck Driver
  • Buffalo shooting
Active Period
  • c.1983-
Languages
  • English
Training
  • c.1970
Is Indigenous
Yes
Heritage Country
  • Pikilyi, NT
Dreaming
  • Yam
  • Flying Ant
  • Two Kangaroos
  • Snake
  • Possum
Initial Record Data Source
  • Aboriginal Artists of the Western Desert: A Biographical Dictionary
Copyright
  • Papunya Tula Artists, NT

Born Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), c. 1949, Michael first saw white men at Mt Doreen station. Michael lived with family at Haasts Bluff until his parents took him to Yuendumu to attend the mission school. He left school after initiation and worked buffalo shooting on the East and South Alligator Rivers, driving trucks, droving cattle, and in the army before coming back to Yuendumu and then to Papunya to marry his current wife Marjorie Napaltjarri. He came to Papunya in 1976, working for a time in the government store and for the Council, observing the work of the older artists for years before beginning to paint regularly for Papunya Tula Artists in 1983. His parents were both Warlpiri, and his father was a traditional healer in the Yuendumu community. After his father’s death in 1976, Michael painted under the instruction of his uncle Jack Tjupurrula . Michael paints Possum, Snake, Two Kangaroos, Flying Ant, and Yam Dreamings for the area around Pikilyi. In 1984 he won the National Aboriginal Art Award; in 1986 he exhibited in the Biennale of Sydney and was included in The State of the Art , a British art documentary. In 1987 a 27’ painting by Michael Nelson was installed in the foyer of the Sydney Opera House. In 1984 he won the commission for the design of the 196 square metre mosaic in the forecourt of the new national Parliament in Canberra, opened in 1988. His 1985 painting Five Stories appeared on the cover of the catalogue of the Asia Society’s Dreamings exhibition which toured North America in 1988- 90. The artist travelled to New York with Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri for the opening of the show. In 1989 he had his first solo exhibition in Melbourne at the Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi and participated in the BMW Art Car Project by hand-painting an M3 racecar. His wife Marjorie Nelson Napaltjarri also paints, though mainly on the backgrounds of her husband’s large commissions – e.g the Opera House and BMW projects. In 1993 he was awarded the Australia Medal for services to Aboriginal Art and an Artist’s Fellowship from the Visual Art Board of the Australia Council.

Writers:
Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer
Date written:
1994
Last updated:
2011
relative of
Tjupurrula Jack
1925
Artist (Painter)
Father's brother, Michael worked under his instruction, following his father's death in 1976.
child of
Nellie Napanangka
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Billy Tjapaltjarri Stockman
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
child of
Hitler Tjupurrula
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
spouse of
Marjorie Nelson Napaltjarri
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
sibling of
Violet Nelson Nakamarra
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Sharon Nelson
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Marie Elena Rose Ellis/Ross/Nelson/Irritye
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Julie Nelson
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Jonathan Nelson
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Regina Lee Ellis/Ross/Nelson/Irritye
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
spouse of
Mary Ellis/Ross
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Roseanne Philomena Ellis/Ross/Nelson/Irritye
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Gordon Tjapanangka Campbell
1941
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Tjupurrula Jack
1925
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Tim Johnson
1947
Artist (Painter)
Unconfirmed
sibling of
Liddy Nakamarra Nelson
1929
Artist (Painter)
child of
Daisy Napanangka Nelson
1924
Artist (Painter)
gave permission for her 'son' (sister's son) Michael Jagamara NELSON to paint some of her (and his mother's) Dreamings in his work for the 1986 Sydney Biennale
associate of
Daisy Napanangka Nelson
1924
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Paddy Jupurrurla Nelson
1919
Artist (Painter)
sibling of
Bessie Nakamarra Sims
1940
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Bessie Nakamarra Sims
1940
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Jake Soewardie
1948
Artist (Mixed Media Artist), Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Photographer), Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Painter)
associate of
Papunya Tula Artists
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Papunya Tjupi Art Centre
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
Five Stories
Date
1985
Appears on the cover of the catalogue of the Asia Society's Dreamings exhibition which toured North America in 1988-90.
Collections
solo exhibition
1993
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Utopia Arts, Sydney, NSW
solo exhibition
1990
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
1989
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne, VIC
First solo exhibtion.
Biennale of Sydney
1986
Exhibition ()
Pier 2, Sydney, NSW
Recognitions
Artist's Fellowship, Visual Arts Board Australia Council
1993
Award
Australia Medal for services to Aboriginal Art
1993
Award
BMW Art Car Project - Painted an M3 race car
1989
Award
Mosaic Forecourt, New Parliament House
1988
Award
designer of the 196 square metre mosaic.
Sydney Opera House 27' painting
1987
Award
National Aboriginal Art Award
1984
Award
Citations:
  • Johnson, V., (2008), Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists, (Place: IAD Press, Alice Springs, NT ISBN 978 1 86465 090 7url: http://www/iadpress.com) http://www.iadpress.com
  • Vivien Johnson, (1997), Michael Jagamara Nelson, (Place: Craftsman House Roseville NSW)
  • (1986), The State of the Art, (Place: United Kingdom (British art documentary))