| Kathleen
Petyarre | |
![]() Mountain Devil Lizard dreaming, 2008 synthetic polymer on Belgian linen 122.0 x 122.0 cm | Kathleen Petyarre was born at the remote location of Atnangkere, an important water soakage for Aboriginal people on the western boundary of Utopia Station, 150 miles north-east of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory. She belongs to the Alyawarre/Eastern Anmatyerre clan and speaks Eastern Anmatyerre, with English as her second language. Kathleen, with her daughter Margaret and her sisters, settled at Iylenty (Mosquito Bore) on Utopia Station near her birthplace. She started working in batik in 1977 when an adult education instructor, Jenny Green, arrived in Utopia and organised batik workshops. Kathleen Petyarre lives at Utopia Station to this day, but now also spends part of the year at her residence in Adelaide. In 1996 she was the winner of the 13th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.
|
Kathleen's considerable reputation as one of the most original indigenous artists has since been confirmed nationally and internationally by her regular inclusion in exhibitions at the most reputed museums and galleries. A book about her art, ' 'Genius of Place' ', was published in 2001 in conjunction with a solo exhibition of her works at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, and her paintings can be found in public and private collections all over the world. Her work has been selected, along with just a handful of Aboriginal artists, for inclusion in the permanent collection of the new Musée du quai Branly in Paris. Kathleen Petyarre is one of the most sought-after living Aboriginal artists. She has been repeatedly nominated by the influential journal Australian Art Collector as being among 'the 50 most collectable artists in Australia'. Her works consistently show the highest degree of innovation and are in the greatest demand, and they tend to fetch the highest prices at auctions. Kathleen is the niece of great Aboriginal artist, the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. |
Mountain
Devil Lizard dreaming, 2007 |
|
Mountain
Devil Lizard dreaming, 2007 |
Mountain
Devil Lizard dreaming, 2008 |