Mitchell Fine Art proudly presents Tjukurrpa, an exhibition honouring the extraordinary life and work of Shorty Jangala Robertson (c.1925–2014) — a senior Warlpiri man and one of Central Australia’s most respected artists.
Born in the remote desert northwest of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, Shorty spent his early years deeply immersed in traditional Warlpiri culture. Before contact with non-Aboriginal Australia, he travelled the vast desert landscape with his family, learning the Tjukurrpa (Dreaming) stories and ceremonial practices that would later form the foundation of his painting.
It was not until the late 1990s that Shorty began painting, joining the Warlukurlangu Artists Centre in 2000. His late start in art was the beginning of a powerful period of creativity, translating deep cultural knowledge into bold and evocative visual form. His works — characterised by concentric circles, journey lines, dotted infill, and vivid colour — depict ancestral narratives of immense cultural and spiritual depth.
Tjukurrpa brings together works spanning Shorty’s career, revealing his transformation from bush-born lawman to internationally acclaimed artist. Each canvas serves as a living archive — a map of Country, memory, and ceremony — and a reflection of his enduring legacy as both custodian and innovator within one of the world’s oldest artistic traditions.
Shorty’s works have been exhibited extensively across Australia and overseas, and are represented in major public and private collections.
Please note: There will be no opening event for this exhibition.
