Shorty Jangala Robertson was born in the 1930's at Jila (Chilla Well), a large soakage and claypan north west of Yuendumu. He lived a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle with his parents, older brother and extended Warlpiri family. It is extraordinary that in all Robertson’s travels and jobs throughout his working life, he escaped the flourishing Central Desert art movement of the 1970's and 1980's. Thus, becoming a painter later in life, Shorty's paintings are fresh, vigorous and new. His use of color to paint and interpret his Dreamings was vital and unique, yet upholding the Warlpiri tradition. This artist was an active member of Warlukurlangu Co-operative and lived at Yuendumu with his wife, artist Lady Nungarrayi Robertson, until his passing in 2014.