Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower)

Hazel Morton Kngwarreye

1964

Alyawarre

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

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk

Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower), Alhepalh (Acacia Shrub), Country, Camp Scene, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Rainbow Dreaming, Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Yerrampe (Honey Ant) Dreaming, Women Collecting Ilyarnayt (Acacia Flower)

Hazel Morton Kngwarreye was born in 1964 and is an Alyawarre artist connected to Ngkwarlerlanem and Arnkawenyerr Country in the Utopia region. She began painting for Mbantua Gallery in 1991 and has developed an extensive career sharing the stories of her Country.

Hazel was initially involved in the Utopia Women's Batik movement, working alongside more than 80 other women from the region. Her batik works are represented in the significant Utopia - A Picture Story collection of 88 silk batiks from the Robert Holmes a Court Collection, and she was also involved in A Summer Project in 1988-89.

Working in silk batik and acrylic on canvas and linen, Hazel paints stories connected to Country, including Ilyarnayt (Acacia validinervia), Alhepalh (Acacia dictyophleba), Tharrkarr (Sweet Honey Grevillea), Yerrampe (Honey Ant), Rainbow Dreaming, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and narrative camp scenes.

Hazel is the daughter of Katie Kemarre, the second wife of Billy Petyarre, and comes from a large extended family of artists. Many of her step-sisters, cousins and her sister Janice also paint for Mbantua Gallery, sharing connected stories and a distinctive family style.