Kathleen Petyarre
Kathleen Petyarre
Born: c. 1930
Deceased: 2018
Language Group: Anmatyerre
Country: Atnangkere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk
Subjects: Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard) Dreaming, Ntyerrm (Seed of the Dogwood Tree), Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Grasses
Kathleen Petyarre was a highly respected artist from the Utopia movement which was established in the 1980's. She began her art career with the batik movement at Utopia and commenced painting in 1988 as part of CAAMA's Summer Project.
Kathleen painted consistently, developing a strong individual style - painting her country and stories associated with this such as Mountain Devil Lizard and Green Bean.
Kathleen and her sisters (all have the same father and three mothers) Ada Bird Petyarre, Gloria Petyarre, Nancy Petyarre, Myrtle Petyarre, Violet Petyarre and Jean Petyarre all paint this Dreaming and are known widely as the prestigious Petyarre Sisters.
Collections
Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
A.T.S.I.C. Collection, Adelaide, SA
Collection de Musee des Arts d'Afrique et d'Oceanie, Paris, France
Edith Cowan University - University Art Collection, Perth, WA
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, SA
Harvard University (Peabody-Essex Anthropology and Ethnology Museum), Salem MA, USA
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA
The John W Kluge Collection, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Exhibitions
1984
1st National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
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
1996
Kathleen Petyarre - Storm in Aknangkerre Country, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
1998
Arnkerrthe - My Dreaming, Alcaston House Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
1999
Recent Paintings by Kathleen Petyarre, Mary Place Gallery, Paddington, NSW
2001
Kathleen Petyarre, Contemporary Art Galley of NSW, Sydney, NSW
2001
Seven Sisters Petyarre, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2002
Redback Art August Exhibition
2002-2004
Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions
2003
Seven Sisters, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003
My Grandmother and Me, World Vision Walkabout, Sydney, NSW
2004-2006
Evolution of Utopia - opened by the Honorable Robert Hill, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2006
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC, USA
2008
Emily and Her Legacy, Hillside Gallery with Coo-ee Art Sydney, Tokyo, Japan
AWARDS
1996
The Third National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Commission Art Award, Canberra, ACT - Second Place
1996
13th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT - Winner
1997
Visy Board Art prize - The Barossa South Australia Vintage Festival Art Show, Nurioopta, SA - Winner
1998
Seppelts Contemporary Art Award, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW - Winner
1998
Seppelts Contemporary Art Award, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW - Finalist
1998
Belonging to Mother Earth - Indigenous Wisdom and Healing Conference, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA - Australian Delegate
References