Born c.1940, Theo Brown was still a young man when painting began at Papunya settlement in 1971. He subsequently lived at Mbunghara outstation near Glen Helen Station, which for a decade in the late ’70s and early ’80s was also Clifford Possum’s place of residence. He was living in Papunya with his wife Jeannie Brown when he began painting for Papunya Tula Artists in the early 1980s. His work was immediately distinctive for lits pale backgrounds and smoky effects – possibly connected to his failing eyesight. The artist’s mother’s country lay around Mereenie and he was of the Western Arrente language group. His paintings depict Witchetty Grub, Lizard, Katjutarri (a small edible tuber – another of his mother’s stories) and a small blue butterfly associated with his father’s country. His work was shown in the USA in the Asia Society’s Dreamings: Art of Aboriginal Australia exhibition which toured the United States in 1988/9 and in group shows of Papunya Tula Artists.

Writers:

Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer

Date written:

1994

Last updated:

2011