One of Australia's most significant living Aboriginal Artists

Elena Obermeier — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:27:21 GMT

Kathleen Petyarre was born in the remote spinifex country of Atnangker 275 kms north-east of Alice Springs. Like her sisters, Kathleen began to learn the techniques of batik in the 1970s. In 1986 she started to paint with acrylic on canvas.

During the formative years of her life Kathleen lived a traditional lifestyle and under the tutelage of her grandmother and other senior women accumulated a store of knowledge and understanding of her country, of sacred sites and ceremonies and the behaviour patterns of her Dreaming Ancestor, 'Arnkerrthe' the Old Woman Mountain Devil or Thorny Devil Lizard.

Mountain Devil Lizard Dreaming
P4787
119 x 119 cm

Kathleen’s paintings are maps which portray her country and the narrative associated with her inherited Dreaming stories. Almost all of her paintings are a visual expression of the journey of 'Arnkerrthe'. Her paintings are included in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Australia and many other important institutional collections in Australia and overseas.

More paintings

- Pages

One of Australia's most significant living Aboriginal Artists