Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower)

Lucky Morton Kngwarreye

1950

Alyawarre

Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk, Wood Carving

Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower), Country, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Alpite (Wild Flowers), Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Rainbow Dreaming, Camp Scene, Yerrampe (Honey Ant) Dreaming

Lucky has featured in many group exhibitions since beginning her artistic career in 1977. The oldest daughter of fellow Utopian artist Mary Morton Kemarre, Lucky participated in batik workshops that were held in Utopia from 1977 to 1987 with her mother and younger siblings. Her work is represented in the Holmes à Court Collection which was exhibited extensively within Australia and abroad.

Like most other batik artists living in Utopia, Lucky made the transition to painting in the summer of 1988-9 as part of CAAMA's 'The First works on Canvas, a Summer Project'. With a more adaptable and effortless medium, Lucky continued to paint with acrylics and has traveled both to Sydney and Melbourne for exhibitions featuring her work. Lucky has also worked briefly with wood sculpture.

When Lucky was growing up she attended a bush school near Hatcher's Creek which is North East of Utopia and spent her childhood years growing up around Kurrajong Camp in Utopia and MacDonnell Downs Station. For many years, Lucky has attended Bachelor College in Alice Springs which has seen her travel to Darwin and Tenant Creek for further education.

Lucky paints an extraordinary variety of stories which she says comes from two Countries. These countries are Ngkwarlerlaneme and Arnkawenyerr of which she belongs to. Lucky can also paint the ceremonial body paint designs belonging to these countries and also her mother's country Antarrengeny.