Valorine Kngwarreye Morgan
Valorine Kngwarreye Morgan
Born: 1982
Language Group: Alyawarre
Country: Ingkwelaye (Kurrajong Bore), Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Subjects: My Grandmother's Story, Atwakeye (Bush Orange), Ahakeye (Bush Plum) Dreaming
Valorine is the granddaughter of the late Minnie Pwerle (deceased in 2006) who was one of Australia's top female contemporary Indigenous artists. Valorine said, 'When nanna was alive, I looked after her, - cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. I prepared paints and changed water when she did painting. I took out nanna hunting and camping. We caught witchetty grub, kangaroo, goanna, bush banana, sugarbag…lots of tucker!'
Valorine has beautiful memories of her younger days in Utopia. She started painting when she was about sixteen. She learnt how to paint by observing Minnie and other family members. After she had her first baby, she stopped painting for a while.
Valorine's father is Keith Morgan Petyarre who is also an artist from Utopia. Her mother passed away when she was young. She predominantly paints 'My Grandmother's Country' and her work reflects the style of Minnie and her aunty, Betty Mpetyane, paintings Awelye (women's ceremony) for Anemangkerr (bush melon) from Atnwengerrp.
Collections
Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs, NT