Alvira Bird Mpetyane / Bush Medicine Leaves (AB04)

Alvira Bird Mpetyane is an Anmatyerre artist born in 1984. Her ancestral Country is Ilkawerne, situated in the Utopia region of the Northern Territory, approximately 200 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs. Alvira’s work draws deeply from her cultural heritage, particularly the women’s ceremonies (Awelye) and the traditional bush foods of her land — including Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Alpar (Rat-tail Plant), and Ntang Artety (Mulga Seed).

She is the fifth eldest of eleven children born to artists Paddy Bird (deceased) and Eileen Bird. Her grandparents include the late Ada Bird Petyarre, one of Utopia’s most revered artists, and Lindsay Bird Mpetyane. Raised on the Mulga Bore outstation within a close-knit and culturally rich family, Alvira was surrounded by creativity and began painting in the mid-1990s as a young girl, often helping her grandmother and aunties with their works.

Alvira’s paintings are characterised by fine detail, intricate dot work, and a strong sense of rhythm — all echoing the knowledge, ceremony, and connection to Country passed down through her family.

She now lives with her husband and children between Alice Springs and Engawala, a small community on her traditional lands. Her artworks have been exhibited in group exhibitions and are held in private collections throughout Australia and internationally.

Alvira has painted the Desert Yam (or Bush Plum) story from her family’s country.

The yam grows underground with its viny shrub growing above ground up to one metre high.

It is normally found on Spinifex sand plains and produces large flowers after summer rain.

The yam tastes much like the common sweet potato. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is still a staple food for the desert aborigines where it can be harvested at any time of the year.

It is also renowned for its medicinal properties. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent.

In this painting, Alvira depicts the leaves and seeds of the yam paying homage to the spirit of this special plant in the hope that it will regenerate.