Colleen Morton Kngwarreye

Colleen Morton Kngwarreye was born in 1957 and is an Alyawarre artist from Ampilatwatja, northeast of Alice Springs. She was involved in the Utopia Women's Batik Group, an important movement that saw many Aboriginal women from the region develop their artistic practice. Her work was included in A Picture Story, a project initiated by CAAMA in the late 1980s.

Colleen learnt about bush medicines and how to collect them from her mother and grandmother as a child, carrying this knowledge into her artwork. These teachings continue to influence the stories she shares through painting.

Working with acrylic on canvas and linen, Colleen paints stories of Country, Bush Medicine, Bush Food and Awelye (Women's Ceremony). Her artworks reflect the cultural knowledge, landscapes and traditions passed down through generations.

Through her paintings, Colleen continues to share the important connections between women, Country and the natural resources that have sustained her people for generations.