Contemporary Aboriginal Art Sale Record

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri's painting Warlugulong 1977 sold for $2.4 million, smashing the sales record for Australian Aboriginal Art. The same painting that was sold for a mere $1,200 in 1977.

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri is regarded as one of the most significant contemporary aboriginal artists and this particular work has been described as one of the most important Australian works of the 20th century.

When I was studying Contemporary Aboriginal Art History at university I was incredibly fortunate to have the artist visit our class as a guest speaker. He was particularly softly spoken and talked about his dreamings and working with acrylic paint on canvas as opposed to traditional media.

We knew back in 1993 that this was an honour and that he was a very important artist but it is only now that I am older that I appreciate just how incredible an experience it was.