Australian Art Collective – Art for Everyone | Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery

Ronnie Tjanpitjimpa

Acrylic on Canvas | Unstretched

1280 x 61 cm | 25XXX

$12,000 AUD

Mens Dreaming

In Men’s Dreaming, senior Pintupi artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa presents a powerful interpretation of ancestral journeys and ceremonial sites associated with men’s Tjukurrpa (Dreaming). Concentric circles—bold in red and outlined in white—are connected by radiating lines that map the pathways and gathering places of ancestral spirits across the desert landscape.

The painting refers to important men’s law ceremonies, passed down through generations, and rooted in the land around the artist’s traditional Country in the Western Desert. Each form symbolises a sacred site or a gathering of men performing rituals, encoded with deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Tjampitjinpa’s work is known for its bold visual rhythm, clarity of structure, and strong use of colour. In this piece, the symmetrical layout and precise line work reflect the ceremonial order and power of men’s law, while the dark background highlights the vivid energy of the red and white patterning.

A founding figure of the Papunya Tula art movement, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa’s paintings stand as vital expressions of cultural authority and enduring connection to Country.