Tjakamara

Warlpirri / Ngaluya

b circa 1932
Kintore Central Australia

Collections
Art Gallery NSW
Art Gallery South Australia
Arty Gallery Western Australia
Holmes a Court Collection
Museum and Art Gallery NT
National Gallery Victoria
National Museum of Australia
The Kelton Foundation
University Western Australia Museum

Long Jack Phillipus was born at Kalipimpa near Kintore west of Alice Springs Central Australia and came to live at Haasts Bluff settlement as a teenager.

His unusual height 188cm determined his name 'Long Jack'. like many of the older artists he initially worked as a stockman and timber cutter.He married a Pintupi woman Suzette Long Napaltjari who was related to Charlie Tjungurrayi another Papunya artist.
Long Jack Phillipus had two sons and a daughter and at least five grandchildren who often accompanied him on his visits to the 'Original Dreamtime Art Gallery' in Alice Springs.

Long Jack was part of the Papunya community and worked as a groundsman and gardner in the early 1960s as did Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri.

Both Long Jack and Billy Stockman offered to help with the mural of the legendry Honey Ant Dreaming painted on the school walls at Papunya in the early 1960's.

Creating some of Papunya Tula's first very large Aboriginal canvas's Long Jack exhibited them at the Aboriginal Arts board overseas exhibition programme.He also served on the Aboriginal Arts Board in the 1970's.

Long Jack Phillipus practiced both his own traditional culture and his Christianity at the Lutheran Mission in the area and was ordained as a lutheran Pastor in 1984.

He was a dignified man,quietly spoken and an accomplished artist. Long Jack's work reflects the simplicity,colours and traditions of his land and culture.

Long Jack continues to paint intermittently and remains close to the few remaining traditional artists at Papunya where he continues to live a semi traditional life with his family.

gallery director promoted the art of Long Jack Phillipus in Alice Springs and is proud to present his paintings from 1989 on this site. Enquiries regarding his art are welcome.