Myrtle Petyarre: The Petyarre Sisters 2007 Online Exhibition

26.11.07 | by Sabine Haider

Myrtle Petyarre was born c.1932 in the central Australian region of Utopia, the traditional land of the Anmatyerre and Alyawarre Aboriginal people considered some of...

Myrtle Petyarre was born c.1932 in the central Australian region of Utopia, the traditional land of the Anmatyerre and Alyawarre Aboriginal people considered some of the first inhabitants of Australia.

Myrtle has been fundamental to the success of the Utopian Aboriginal art movement beginning as a batik artist in the 1980's and then continuing her art on canvas. Along with her sisters Ada Bird Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre, Gloria Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Nancy and Jean Petyarre, she shares and has inherited various dreamings which she expresses in strong linear and curved strokes.

Myrtle's depictions of awelye, a specific women's ceremonial body paint design are influenced from a range of dreamings including arnkerrth (the Mountain Devil Lizard), various plants, healing traditions and law. When Myrtle Petyarre applies the awelye design on her body she re-renacts the Dreaming Story and makes deep connection with her country Atnangkerre and the Dreaming ancestor arnkerrth, the Mountain Devil Lizard. During women's ceremony, these designs would be painted on the breast, shoulders and neck using powders ground from ochre, charcoal and ash. It is applied with a flat stick with padding or with fingers in raw linear and curved lines.

Myrtle's work has been exhibited across Australia, Ireland and Indonesia. She is part of the Robert Holmes a Court collection and she was also featured in Utopia: A Picture Story, an exhibitions featuring 88 batik works from Utopian Aboriginal artists.

Myrtle is featured as part of our current online exhibition The Petyarre Sisters 2007: Australian Aboriginal Art from Utopia. Her works in this exhibition include:

View the Petyarre Sisters 2007 online exhibition or view all of Myrtle Petyarrre's work at the Central Art Aboriginal Art Gallery.