Jimmy Pike, Murungurrwarnti 1984, screenprint

Jimmy Pike, Murungurrwarnti (Little Men or Spirit Men) 1984, screenprint 25x36cm, paper size, ed 112/500

A copy of this charming screenprint by Jimmy Pike titled Murungurrwarnti (Little Men or Spirit Men) 1984 is in the collection of the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria). This work is a s creen print of an original series of lino cuts. Pike carved his lino with uneven zig zag lines a technique similar to carved boat nuts. The paper size is 25x36cm, ed 112/500

Jimmy Pike was a celebrated Walmajarri artist whose early life was spent living traditionally with his family, moving between waterholes across the Great Sandy Desert in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This formative experience — grounded in deep knowledge of Country, culture and ancestral law — became the enduring source of his artistic vision.

Pike’s paintings and screenprints distil the physical and spiritual power of Walmajarri land. Through rhythmic patterning, bold colour and dynamic line, he evokes the shifting seasons of the Kimberley, the vast desert plains and the sacred sites embedded within them. His work does not simply depict landscape; it conveys lived experience — the memory of walking Country, reading its signs, and understanding its spiritual dimensions.

A pioneering figure in contemporary Aboriginal art, Pike successfully bridged traditional storytelling and modern printmaking practice. His imagery translates ancestral narratives into striking contemporary compositions, making his work both culturally grounded and visually compelling. The result is art that carries authority, authenticity and innovation in equal measure.

This limited-edition screenprint exemplifies Pike’s ability to transform the remote northern desert into an immersive visual experience. For collectors and admirers of Australian Indigenous art, it represents not only a significant work by a major Kimberley artist, but also an opportunity to engage with the enduring cultural heritage and timeless landscapes of Walmajarri Country.