Anatjari Tjakamarra (1938–1992) was a Central Australian Aboriginal artist who was part of the Papunya Tula art movement.
Anatjari Tjakamarra who also went by Yanyatjarri or Anitjarri no.3 was a Pintupi man born around 1938 in the area of Kulkuta, southeast of Kiwirrkura in Western Australia.
[9] During his early painting period in the 1970s, Tjakamarra's main political and personal goal was to visit Yawalyurru (a Tingarri site) and protect it from mining exploration.
[4] Tjakamarra left Papunya at the start of the outstation movement, establishing in Tjukula in Western Australia, southeast of his birthplace and near the Northern Territory border.
This journey had last six days in the desert which was accompanied with hot weather, insufficient water, and vehicle problems.
[2] These stories featured two characters in human and animal form who traveled the desert and created sacred sites.
[11] Due to his striking compositions which featured traditional Aboriginal figures and ritual imagery, his artwork influenced the contemporary art world.
[13] Possum Ancestors, 1975, Acrylic painting The imagery in this piece is connected to the belief of Tjkumpa, or also known as "dreaming".
Untitled, Body Paint for Initiation, 1972 Created by Tjakamarra during his early years in the Papunya movement, this piece was based on initiation ceremonies where designs were painted onto men and these designs reflected those worn by a ritual leader.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired his painting Tingari Dreaming Cycle[15] in the early 1990s;[16] this was the first purchased work of contemporary Aboriginal artwork.