Born in 1946 in Vaughan Springs, Michael Nelson was taught sand paintings, body paintings and shield paintings by his grandfather when he was a boy. His country, near Vaughan Springs, lies at the intersection of several major Dreaming paths and, thus, his paintings depict these many sacred sites.

The father of six girls and one boy, Michael Nelson is a family orientated man. "When I paint I always have my children around me. I talk to them and tell them stories about our country. We often sit around the camp fire, telling stories. I want to pass on my culture. I'm proud of my work."

Acclaimed as an outstanding artist who has a unique ability to articulate the meaning of his work, Michael Nelson has been instrumental in communicating the significance of Aboriginal culture and art to the world.

"Acrylic paintings really represent Aboriginal recognition of their place in Australian society. Aboriginal art is best though, in my mind, as a wedge into the dominant world-view of European society."

Michael Nelson always plans a painting in his mind. By contemplating the relationship between conceptual design and the body of knowledge that it relates to, he forms a holistic integration which represents Aboriginal people through time, space and the land itself.

"Aboriginal Art is different to Non-Aboriginal Art. They make it up in their imagination but ours are not just pretty pictures. Our stories are given to us to carry and pass on to our children. Non-Aboriginal people have to be prepared, when they see our paintings, to learn something about Aboriginal culture."

In addition to seeing his art as a cultural statement, Michael views it as a political tool to gain more leverage for Aboriginal land rights and self-determination. To Michael art, religion and politics cannot be separated. He believes that greater political recognition, established through Aboriginal Art will also create more room for spiritual expression and a deeper understanding of Aboriginal beliefs.

In 1992 BMW and approached Michael as well as several other prominat Australian Artist such as Ken Done, to paint a BMW car in his traditional design. The car supplied was the car that won the Shell Ultra Australian Touring Championship in 1987. The car is no in a private art collection.

As a professional artist, specialising in acrylic art for many years, Michael Nelson Jakamarra is a master at his work and in 1993 he received The Order of Australian Merit in recognition of his vital contribution to Aboriginal Art.

EXHIBITIONS

Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi Melbourne, Australia National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne, Australia The Biennale Sydney, Australia Roar Studios Melbourne, Australia Australia National Gallery Canberra, Australia Institute of Contemporary Art London, England Asia Sociey Galleries New York, USA John Weber Gallery New York, USA Centro Cultural Arte Contemporareo Mexico City, Mexico

COLLECTIONS

Northern Territory Art Gallery Darwin, Australia Northern Territory Museum Darwin, Australia Australian National Gallery Canberra, Australia Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane, Australia Jakamarra Collection Sydney, Australia Parliament House Art Collection Canberra, Australia Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney, Australia The Australian Museum Sydney, Australia Western Australia Art Gallery Perth, Australia South Australian Museum Adelaide, Australia

CORPORATE DESIGNS

BMW Car Series Germany

MURALS AND MOSAICS

Parliament House, Forecourt Mosaic Canberra, Australia Sydney Opera House, Opera Theatre Mural Sydney, Australia

ART AWARDS

1984 National Aboriginal Art Award

BOOK BIOGRAPHIES

"The Face of the Centre - Papunya Tula Paintings 1971-1984" "National Gallery of Victoria - 1985" "State of the Art - Ideas and Images of the 1980's" "Dreamings, The Art of Aboriginal Australia" "Windows on the Dreaming" "A Pictorial History of Australian Paintings" "Papunya Tula 1982-1983" "Aboriginal Art and Spirituality" "Aboriginal Art of the Western Desert" "A Myriad of Dreaming - 20th Century Aboriginal Art" "Aboriginal Art" "Modern Art - Ancient Icon" "Aboriginal Dreamings"