George Milpurrurru

George Milpurrurru (1934–1998) was an Australian Aboriginal artist known for his bark paintings.

Biography Milpurrurru was born in 1934 and raised in central Arnhem Land, specifically Ganalbingu land, where he learned his artistry. He came from a family of artists; he was the son of Dick Ngulmarrmar, who taught him the art of bark painting, and the sister of Dorothy Djukulul, also a highly respected bark painter. Milpurrurru is a part of the Gurrumba Gurrumba clan, which translates to a flock of Geese. The traditions, styles, and surroundings of his clan provided much inspiration when it came to his bark paintings, which is shown through his usage of the Magpie Geese. The Magpie Goose is a totemic animal of the Gurrumba Gurrumba clan, and is often depicted surrounding water holes—birth and death portals to both creation and the afterlife. Milpurrurru's daughter, Gladys Getjpulu, is also an artist.

He died in 1998.

He individualised his work by adding innovative styles to the traditional styles and techniques of his clan such as combining the cross-hatching technique of Arnhem Land with the Eastern technique of depicting plain figures against black backgrounds.

Along with Johnny Bonguwuy and David Malangi, Milpurrurru took part in the 1979 Sydney event, A European Dialogue, in which their art was first broadcast to a wider audience, the larger part of metropolitan Australia.

In 1985, he showed his first solo exhibition at the Aboriginal Arts Australia Gallery in Sydney. Following his solo exhibition, he showed for a second time at the Biennale of Sydney.

The Goose Egg Hunt

His work The Goose Egg Hunt (1983) is held by the National Gallery. In 1993 it was used by Australia Post on the 85c postage stamp, celebrate the International Year for the World's Indigenous People. Goose Egg Hunt had been used by a Perth company to be reproduced on textiles in Vietnam.

Aboriginal Memorial

The Aboriginal Memorial is a memorial constructed by forty three men and women of Ramingining and is meant to serve as a reminder of the Aboriginal peoples' place within Australia in response to European colonisation. It is made up of 200 decorated hollow log coffins which are situated to act as a map to showcase the artists Country and was conceived by Djon (John) Mundine in 1987–88 and realised by 43 artists, one of whom was Milpurruruu. Milpurrurru's work, representing the Ganalbingu people in the upper right bank of the memorial, is intended to demonstrate distinction of place through the depiction of water lilies and cormorants.

Public collections Milpurruruu's work is held in the permanent collections of the following: National Museum of Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales