walala began painting in december 1987, a few years after settling at kiwirrkurra. he was introduced to painting by his cousin warlimpirrnga. he taught walala about using paints and canvas. walala joined the papunya tula artists, and he, thomas and warlimpirrnga eventually gained fame internationally as the tjapaltjarri brothers. although he normally paints using "tjapaltjarri" as a surname, walala's skin name is "tjapangati".