Jeannie Petyarre 1950-2022
Jeannie Petyarre was a highly respected Anmatyerre artist from Utopia in Central Australia, renowned for her vibrant
paintings of Bush Medicine, Bush Yam Dreaming, and Wildflower Dreaming. Born at Boundary Bore Outstation,
Jeannie was part of a celebrated artistic lineage—sister to artists Greeny Purvis, Evelyn Pultara, Rosemary, and Anna
Price Petyarre, and niece of the legendary Emily Kame Kngwarreye. These strong family ties deeply informed her work, both culturally and stylistically.
Jeannie began her artistic career in the 1980s through batik, a textile art introduced to Utopia women. Under the guidance of her aunt Emily, she transitioned to painting on canvas,
developing a distinctive visual language marked by fluid, rhythmic patterns that evoke the movement of desert flora.
Her depictions of bush medicine leaves and yams not only celebrate traditional knowledge but also express her spiritual connection to country.
Her work gained early recognition in 1989 with inclusion in the landmark “Utopia: A Picture Story” exhibition, followed by the 1990 Robert Holmes à Court Collection, which elevated
Utopia art onto the international stage. Jeannie’s paintings have since been exhibited widely in Australia and abroad, and are held in major public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Australia.
Jeannie passed away in December 2022 in Alice Springs, surrounded by family. She is remembered for her dynamic contribution to Aboriginal art and her role in preserving and sharing ancestral stories. Her legacy endures in the flowing lines of her canvases and the cultural knowledge they carry forward.