Michael Jagamara (or Tjakamarra) was born c1947 at Pikilyi, west of Yuendemu in Central Australia. He is a Warlpiri and Luritja speaker. As a young boy, he was taught sand and body paintings by his grandfather. He is the custodian of many Dreaming stories and believes it is his responsibility to preserve them in paint and teach others about his culture.

After an early life of buffalo shooting, droving and the army, he began painting in 1981 at Papunya. He paints many Dreamings, including Possum, Snake, Kangaroo, Flying Ant, Rain, Lightning and Sacred Sites. He combines several Dreamings in the one work.

In 1984, he won the National Aborigine Art Award and in 1987, an 8 metre painting by him was installed in the Sydney Opera House. He visited the USA in 1988 for an exhibition of Aboriginal Art in New York. In 1993, he received the Order of Australia Medal for services to Art.

Michael designed  a large mosaic for the forecourt of the new Australian Parliament building and has painted  a BMW in Aboriginal motifs for that company. He is a highly successful and well regarded painter and for those reasons is very collectable.