Ally Kemarre
Ally Kemarre
Born:
c. 1930's
Deceased:
2007
Language Group:
Anmatyerre
Country:
Ahalpere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:
Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects:
Anwekety (Conkerberry), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming
Ally began painting during the CAAMA - A Summer Project of 1988/89 when acrylic painting was introduced to her home region of Utopia. Though far from prolific, Ally steadily painted up until her death in 2007. Her simplistic paintings reflected the Anwekety, small black conkerberries that grow after good rain. They are found abundantly in certain areas of Utopia, particularly where she called home.
Ally lived in a family community where many members were artists; primarily painting with some sculpture. Some of these family members include Glady Kemarre, Angelina Pwerle and Polly and Kathleen Ngale whom all paint for Mbantua Gallery. With her art, Ally tried to teach the wider world about her paintings and the Anwekety that features in them.
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA
1989
Utopia Women's Paintings, the first Works on Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988-1989, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1990
Utopia - A Picture Story, an Exhibition of 88 works on Silk by Utopian artists, Holmes à Court Collection, toured Eire and Scotland
2000
Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2024
Desert Gestures, The Anzai Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
