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Nancy Kunoth Petyarre

Nancy was most well known for her fine dot designs depicting the skin of the Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard), a gentle creature. She is one of the famous seven Petyarre Sisters.#url#

Born: c. 1934

Deceased: 2009

Language Group: Anmatyerre

Country: Atnangkere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas and Linen, Batik on Silk and Cotton

Subjects: Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard) Dreaming, Awelye (Women's Ceremony), Bush Medicine, Awelye (Women's Ceremony) for Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard), Kame (Pencil Yam Seed)

Nancy was the second eldest of the 'seven famous Petyarre sisters' from the Utopia region. She shared the story of Arnkerrthe, the Mountain Devil Lizard, with her sisters and each had their unique way of painting it. Nancy was most well known as an artist for her fine dot designs representing the skin on the back of this gentle creature.
Nancy was not a prolific artist and earned immense respect in the industry from her passion and dedication for painting which also reflected her personality. In the latter years of her life, Nancy painted very few paintings and turned to some linear work for more ease. Initially, Nancy was part of the original group of women to participate in batik workshops and her work in this is represented in the Robert Holmes à Court collection. Her artwork is also in collection at the National Gallery of Australia.
Nancy passed away peacefully at Utopia in August 2009 after suffering a stroke in Alice Springs. She requested to be buried next to Emily Kame Kngwarreye in a little known spot along the Sandover Highway.
Collections
Edith Cowan University - University Art Collection, Perth, WA
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA
Exhibitions
1989
Aboriginal Art, The Continuing Tradition, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
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
1992-1994
Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT
1994
Yapakurlangu Wirrkardu, Bachelor College, Tennant Creek, NT
1999
Caring for Country - Artists of Utopia, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
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
Redback Art August Exhibition
2002-2004
Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions
2004-2005
Evolution of Utopia - opened by the Honorable Robert Hill, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2005
Small Wonders, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
References
Brody, A.
(1989) Utopia Women's Paintings The First Works on Canvas, A Summer Project 1988-89, exhib.cat., Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, WA
Brody, A.
(1990) Utopia: a Picture Story, 88 Silk Batiks from the Robert Holmes à Court Collection, Heytesbury Holdings, Perth, WA
Stanislawsk-Birnberg, M.
(1990) Journeylines ©
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Nancy Kunoth Petyarre

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