Timothy Mutji Kukatja, b. 1979

Timothy Mutji is from Balgo and grew up there. He comes from a strong family line of artists, and painting has always been a natural part of his life. His grandmother, Eubena Nampitjin,was a celebrated artist known for painting her Country in the Great Sandy Desert, around Tjintjintjin and Wangkartu. His father, Michael Mutji, was also a dedicated painter and one of the first men to paint at Warlayirti Artists in the early 1980s. Michael walked into Balgo from Tjunpartja, passing through Lake Gregory and along the Canning Stock Route, near Well 33—an area that remains central to the family’s ancestral stories.

Timothy first began painting in 2001, but over the following five years, he created only eight works. After a long break, he returned to the art centre in 2025 with a renewed passion for painting and a completely new style. His recent works have captured the attention of everyone who walks into the Balgo Gallery. He lives in Balgo with his partner, Christine Mudgedell, and together they have five children and five grandchildren.