Terry Murray (Murungkurr) Australian, Walmajarri, b. 1976

My Name is Murungkurr Terry Murray and i am a Walmajarri Man. I lived on Cherrabun Station in a tin shelter. My family had no vehicle so they went hunting on foot. Murungkurr has a strong grounding in bush skills which he learnt from his parents.

He paints hisjaja [grandfather - Pater Skipper] and japi's [grandmother's] country, called Wirnpa and Japingka. It is the southwestern side of the Great Sandy Desert. This is jila [permanent waterhole] country. His mother and brothers lived around there when they were kids.

Murungkurr has strong family connections to a significant group of Mangkaja artists and knows his law and family relationships through his skin group. He explains, "Our culture is an everyday learning thing. I grew up with this. You have to have a strong mind and strong spirit and soul and always listen to your elders". His father, Peter Skipper was both an important artist as well as being a cultural leader for the Ngurrara Canvas from Walmajarri country in the Great Sandy Desert. Additionally, artists Jimmy Nerrimah and Mona Chuguna, Paji Honeychild and Cory Surprise are all close family members.

In 1997, Terry was the youngest painter alongside his elders on the Ngurrara Canvas. This incredibly important work was used in the Native Title Determination for the Walmajarri people. With respect of the elders past and present and the four language groups, Terry is currently leading management of the Ngurrara Canvas in cooperation with the Ngurrara Canvas Group Management Committee. He is tasked with moving forward and showing those connections to the Great Sandy Desert through artwork, dance and the transfer of knowledge.