Andrew Tjupurrula Highfold

Andrew Highfold Tjupurrula was born in 1958 and comes from Crystal Brook in South Australia. He is part of the Stolen Generations and began his traditional family reconnection when he was 22 years old.

In 2006 Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University. He has achieved acknowledgements in many fields and activities including 11 years’ experience as an ambulance officer. He was the first Indigenous ambulance officer in South Australia, possibly in the nation, and is fondly remembered by colleagues. He comes from a family with nine children. Andrew is married with three children of his own and grandchildren.

Andrew's Indigenous connections are on his mothers side to Kokatha (South Australia) and Pitjantjatjara (near Uluru, Alice Springs) clans; he later relocated with his family to Alice Springs in 2010 to build relationships with his traditional family, sadly his mother who was born at the Koonibba mission (SA) had passed away before they could reunite.

He learned to paint spending time with his sisters' in law who painted all of their lives. He paints the country, wet season and dry season. He celebrates family and culture through his art. He believes that his paintings are gifts from his Mother and Grandmother's spirits.

Andrew Highfold’s story is a remarkable one.
As he explains, it's all the result of connecting with his Aboriginal heritage, after being brought up not as Andrew Highfold but as Andrew Curtis - a member of the Stolen Generations. "I was placed into a white family from birth. "I guess it wasn't until I realised that, as I grew older... having a look in the mirror, that I was different to the family I was with. It took me quite a while to understand that because I never really thought of myself as an Aboriginal person." Andrew now lives in Perth in Western Australia with his wife Zelda and his children are grown up. Andrew expresses who he his and his culture through his paintings.