Rosemary Petyarre
About Rosemary
Rosemary was born in the early 1950s at Atneltye, or Boundary Bore, on Utopia Station in the Northern Territory, located 270 kms northeast of Alice Springs. Rosemary Petyarre is the niece of the famous Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye and sister of Jeannie Petyarre and half-sister of artists Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Evelyn Pultara. She is also a skin sister to other well-known artists including Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre and Ada Bird Petyarre. It is clear that Rosemary Petyarre has painting in her blood. Rosemary was one of a group of Anmatyerre women at the forefront of the Aboriginal art movement at Utopia. Like many of the women artists there, Rosemary Petyarre originally produced batik works, eventually moving to painting after encouragement from her aunt Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Today, Rosemary Petyarre spends her time between Utopia and Alice Springs. Rosemary Petyarre is an incredibly talented artist amongst the famous names of Aboriginal art who reside and work at Utopia Homelands. Rosemary Petyarre’s paintings have been acquired by collectors worldwide. Aboriginal art status – Established artist.
Selected Exhibitions
1989 Utopia Women’s Paintings, A Summer Project
1990 A picture Story, 88 silk works from the Holmes à Court Collection, UK
1993 Central Australian Aboriginal Art & Craft Exhibition, Alice Springs NT
2008 Utopia Collection2, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle WA
2014 Desert Song, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle WA
