Myrtle Petyarre
Myrtle Petyarre
Born: c. 1930
Deceased: 2014
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, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Akatyerre (Desert Raisin), Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard)
Myrtle Petyarre is sister to Ada, Gloria, Nancy, Kathleen, Violet and Jean Petyarre. Like her sisters, Myrtle paints Mountain Devil Lizard - Arnkerrthe which is one of the dreamings from Atnangkere and Alhalkere country.
Myrtle was involved with the Utopia Women's Batik group since its inception in the early 70's. Her work is represented in 'A Picture Story' a project initiated by CAAMA in the late 80's. She began painting on canvas in 1988 with CAAMA's Summer Project.
She is known for her bold linear patterns, illustrating body paint designs for the Mountain Devil Lizard Story.
Collections
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW
University of Queensland, Anthropology Museum, St Lucia, QLD
Exhibitions
1984
The First National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
1985
The Second National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
1986
The Third National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
1988
The Fifth 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
1991
The Eighth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
1992
Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT
1994
Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT
2001
Mountain Devil Lizard, Arnkerrthe - Myrtle, Nancy and Violet Petyarre, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2001
Seven Sisters Petyarre, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2002
Seven Sisters, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2002-2004
Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions
2004-2006
Evolution of Utopia - opened by the Honorable Robert Hill, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2005
Small Wonders, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
References