Anaty (Desert Yam)

Jeannie Mills Pwerle

1965

Alyawarre

Irrultja and Atnwengerrp, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Acrylic on Canvas and Linen

Anaty (Desert Yam), Anemangkerr (Bush Melon) Dreaming, Akarley (Northern Wild Orange)

Jeannie Mills Pwerle was born in 1965 and is an Alyawarre artist connected to Irrweltye and Atnwengerrp Country in the Utopia region. She is a respected artist and cultural knowledge holder who continues a strong family tradition of painting and caring for Country.

Jeannie comes from a renowned Utopia artistic family. Her mother is Dolly Mills, her late uncle was Greeny Purvis Petyarre, and her great aunt was the internationally celebrated late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. She also spent many years learning alongside the late Lena Pwerle, a senior Ahalpere elder, developing her skills through observation, practice and cultural knowledge.

Working in acrylic on canvas and linen, Jeannie is best known for her Anaty (Bush Potato/Yam) paintings, depicting the yam, its seeds and flowers from her homeland. She also paints Anemangkerr (Bush Melon) and Akarley (Wild Orange) stories. Her distinctive Anaty style was developed in 2004 for Mbantua Gallery and has become recognised for its energy and movement. In 2008, one of Jeannie's large Anaty paintings was selected for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), one of Australia's most significant Aboriginal art awards.

Alongside her painting, Jeannie continues her cultural responsibilities as a bush medicine practitioner, a role passed down through her family. Known for her warmth and generosity, she shares her knowledge of bush foods, medicine and Country while continuing to develop her artistic practice.