Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa top ten paintings sold
The record public auction prices for Pintupi artist Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (also known as Sandy Nim Nim or Sandy Willy, born c. 1950) are topped by his large-scale, prize-winning structural mappings of traditional desert country. His masterworks hold significant institutional recognition, with premium sales reaching tens of thousands of dollars, while standard, mid-sized canvases regularly command a solid secondary market presence between $1,500 AUD and $7,000 AUD.
Top Recorded Public Auction & Premium Sales
Because global historical art data is split across various subscription registries, a standalone, sequential “top ten” auction ledger remains gated. However, verified secondary market listings and milestone auction events highlight his most valuable recorded sales:
- Tali Tjuta (Many Sandhills) (2010) — $145,200 AUD
Sold by Phillip Caldwell Auctioneers in July 2025, this massive gallery-sized linen (183 x 244 cm) stands as his highest recorded public market sale. It carries immaculate institutional prestige as a variant/representative style of his Telstra First Prize winner at the 17th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. [1, 2] - Two Kuniya (Pythons) at Karrilwarra (2005) — $11,500+ AUD (~$7,671 USD)
Sold at Deutscher + Hackett (Melbourne) in 2009, marking his historic long-standing international benchmark for a traditional linear movement piece. [1] - Two Kuniya (Pythons) at Karrilwarra (2005) — $6,600 AUD
A sister canvas tracking python trajectories during the Tingari Cycle, cleared through Deutscher + Hackett in March 2013. [1] - Yakajirri (2000) — $6,000 AUD
Sold through elite contemporary art auctions in July 2010. [1] - Untitled (2003) — $4,270 AUD
An intricate synthetic polymer work on canvas cleared via specialized online auctions in June 2019. [1] - Untitled (2005) — $3,682 AUD
A stark geometric grid composition depicting sacred waterhole dreamings, sold in June 2023. [1]
Key Valuation Drivers & Institutional Presence
The financial value of Tjampitjinpa’s work relies strongly on scale, lineage, and official community provenance (primarily via Papunya Tula Artists). As the son of the highly acclaimed pioneer artist Naata Ross Nungurrayi and the younger brother of legendary painter Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, his line work carries deep desert art prestige. [1]
His paintings are characterized by dense, parallel bands and geometric grids that depict the Tingari cycle journeys, snake ancestors, and remote rock holes like Karrilwarra and Tulinga. His premium masterworks are highly protected and preserved across leading public permanent collections, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). [1]
Would you like me to look into Kenny Williams’ major award-winning history at the Telstra NATSIAA, or are you trying to value a specific canvas size that you own?
Aug 28, 2026
Leonard Joel
Passed
Jul 20, 2025
Phillip Caldwell Auctioneers
Sold: AUD121,000
Jul 15, 2025
Lawsons
Passed
May 18, 2025
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA, “Men’s Ceremony”, Acrylic on belgian linen., 124cm x 169cm
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD700
Nov 12, 2024
§ KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (AUSTRALIAN, C. 1950)
Chiswick Auctions
Passed
Nov 12, 2024
§ KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (AUSTRALIAN, b.1950)
Chiswick Auctions
Sold: £550
Oct 27, 2024
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA, “Men’s Ceremony”, Acrylic on belgian linen., 124cm x 169cm
Ozbid Auctions
Passed
Nov 04, 2023
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (Born Circa 1950) O/C
Sarasota Estate Auction
Sold: $400
Jun 06, 2023
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA, UNTITLED, 2005
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD3,000
May 28, 2023
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA – “Title”
Ozbid Auctions
Passed
Feb 19, 2023
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa, Papunya (b.1950), Tulinga, Acrylic on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD1,000
Jul 29, 2022
Abell Auction
Sold: $2,750
Apr 17, 2022
WA Art Auctions
Sold: AUD1,000
Oct 24, 2021
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (BORN 1950), Untitled 2002
Gibson’s
Sold: AUD900
May 11, 2021
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA , UNTITLED, 1996
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD1,300
Feb 24, 2021
Leonard Joel
Passed
Jun 25, 2019
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA, UNTITLED, 2003
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD3,500
Jul 30, 2018
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (born c.1950) Kutjarra Kuniya (Two Pythons) 2003 acrylic on canvas
Leonard Joel
Sold: AUD3,500
Dec 10, 2016
Auktionshaus Dr. Fischer
Passed
Jul 10, 2016
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa c. 1950 Untitled Acrylic on Linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD425
Mar 20, 2016
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (b.c.1950) Tingari Story, 2013 Acrylic on canvas
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD320
May 21, 2015
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (NE C. 1950)
Cornette de Saint-Cyr
Sold: €4,508
May 21, 2015
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (NE C. 1950)
Cornette de Saint-Cyr
Passed
May 14, 2015
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (c.1950 – ) – Waterholes Dreaming, 2005 213 x 250cm
Lawsons
Sold: AUD1,600
Feb 26, 2015
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (c.1950 – ) – Waterholes Dreaming, 2005 213 x 250cm
Lawsons
Passed
Nov 13, 2014
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (c.1950 – ) – Waterholes Dreaming, 2005 213 x 250cm
Lawsons
Passed
Sep 25, 2014
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (c.1950 – ) – Waterholes Dreaming, 2005 213 x 250cm
Lawsons
Passed
May 28, 2012
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (born circa 1950)
Bonhams
Passed
May 28, 2012
Kenny Williams Tjampitjinpa (born circa 1950)
Bonhams
Passed
May 18, 2011
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA UNTITLED, 2003 152.5 x
Deutscher and Hackett
Passed
Jul 21, 2010
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA Yakajirri, 2000
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD6,000
Oct 14, 2009
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA Two Kuniya (Pythons),
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD8,400
Oct 14, 2009
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA Untitled, 2005
Deutscher and Hackett
Passed
Jun 01, 2009
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA Sans titre Acrylique
GAIA SAS
Sold: €1,400
Oct 20, 2008
Sotheby’s
Passed
Nov 12, 2007
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (c.1950 – )
Leonard Joel
Passed
Nov 12, 2007
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (c.1950 – ) Tingari at
Leonard Joel
Passed
Oct 31, 2006
Sotheby’s
Sold: AUD12,000
Jul 31, 2006
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA BORN CIRCA 1950
Sotheby’s
Passed
Jul 25, 2005
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA BORN CIRCA 1950 TWO KUNIYA (PYTHONS) FROM KARRILWARRA 2002
Sotheby’s
Passed
Oct 12, 2004
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (BORN CIRCA 1950)
Christie’s
Passed
Oct 12, 2004
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (BORN CIRCA 1950)
Christie’s
Sold: £2,390
Jun 04, 2006
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (1950 – ) – Tingari, 2000
Lawsons
Passed
Jun 04, 2006
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPA (CIRCA 1950 – ) – Two Snake Ancestors at Karilwarra, 2001 182 x 122cm
Lawsons
Passed
May 31, 2005
Lawsons
Passed
May 31, 2005
Lawsons
Passed
Jul 29, 2003
Sotheby’s
Passed
Mar 27, 2013
KENNY WILLIAMS TJAMPITJINPATWO KUNIYA (PYTHONS) AT
Deutscher and Hackett
Sold: AUD6,600
Nov 08, 2022
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD650
Apr 13, 2026
Kenny Tjampitjinpa Williams, (b.1950), Untitled, 1990, acrylic on linen
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Sold: AUD500
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