Pegleg Tjampitjinpa was born circa 1920 in the Australian desert. He and his family lived a traditional lifestyle in the region surrounding Wilkinkarra and had no contact with western civilisation until 1957 when his family group encountered a Northen Territory Welfare branch control at which time they were relocated to settlement Papunya in Central Australia.
Pegleg started painting after visiting his relation Pinta Pinta at Walungurru (Kintore). His works are reminiscent of works by the early Papunya Tula artists of the very early 1970’s, with a very limited palette and focus primarily on Tingari designs.
After Pinta Pinta‘s death and due to failing eyesight Pegleg stopped painting until the late 1990’s when an eye operation restored his sight.
Pegleg's paintings featured in the important exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW 'Papunya Tula - Genesis and Genius' in 2000'. He is represented in major public and private collections throughout Australia and overseas. Pegleg passed away in late 2006.