Anna Price Petyarre / Yam Dreaming (1A)

60cm x 90cm Acrylic on Linen, 2001

SKU: DG04393

~~$1,450.00~~ $1,150.00

Anna Petyarre was born c.1965 in the Utopia region Northern Territory, and is the daughter of the late Gloria Ngale, a highly respected Elder and artist. Anna is also the niece of the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, one of Australia’s best known artists. Her Region is Alhalkere and her Language Group is Anmatyerre.

She currently resides and paints at Mulga Bore, a community approximately 200 km from Alice Springs, and of late has travelled with her art. She commenced painting as a child, surrounded by some of the most notable artists of the region. In 1996, she began her professional artistic career. Her content is wide, including Body Paint, Bush Tucker (Yam, Wildflower, Bush Potato) and Women’s Ceremony. He style varies from bold linear using brightly coloured overlayed strokes (a legacy of her introduction to painting with Batik works), to small and intricate dotwork in subdued tones.

Anna is a traditional woman, participating in Women’s Business and further learning the dreaming stories of her family and her culture. She is well educated and is a wonderful ambassador for her people and for the Art of Utopia.

Her artwork has been exhibited extensively throughout Australia and Internationally, and she has painted for important galleries in capital cities.

Selected Collections

• Artbank, Sydney

• Art Gallery of South Australia

• Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

• Museum & Art Gallery Northern Territory

• Homes a Court Gallery Collection, Perth

• Art Gallery of Western Australia

• Queensland Art Gallery

• The Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth

• Anthropology Art Museum, Perth

Selected Exhibitions

1996

• “Utopia Dreaming”, Soho Gallery, Sydney

1997

• Dacou Gallery, Adelaide

• Sutton Gallery, Melbourne

1998

• Quadrivium Gallery, Sydney

• 15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, Darwin NT

1999

• Tandanya, Adelaide

• BMG Art, Adelaide

2000

• Tandanya, Adelaide

• Dacou Gallery (in association with AMP), Adelaide

• Mary Place Gallery, Sydney

2001

• “Women’s Business”, Australian Exhibition Centre, Chigaco, USA

• Japingka Gallery, Perth

• Raintree Aboriginal Art Gallery, Darwin

2002

• Galerie Le Temps du Reve, France

• Hogarth Galleries, Sydney

• Glen Eira City Gallery, Melbourne

2003

• New City Merchants, Knoxville, Tennessee USA

• Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee USA

• ‘The Cove Gallery’ Portland, Oregon USA

• Contemporary Aboriginal Art Event, Umpqua Bank, Portland, Oregon USA

• Mary’s Woods, Portland Oregon USA

• Art From The Dreamtime, Portland Art Museum, Portland Oregon USA

2004

• Mbantua Gallery USA exhibition; Nashville and Greenwich

2005

• Yam Dreaming – Atnwelarre, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, N.T

2008

• Emily and Her Legacy, Hillside Gallery, Tokyo with Coo-ee Art Sydney in conjunction with the opening of the landmark retrospective exhibition Utopia – the Genius of Emily Kngwarreye at the National Art Centre, Tokyo, Japan

Anna has painted the seed of the Bush Yam. The Desert yam is an important food source for the Aboriginal people from Utopia in central Australia. It has an impressive root system, spreading up to twelve metres from the stalk, and is commonly found in woodland areas nearby a water source. Its bright green leaves and yellow flowers, can spread over quite a wide area, growing strongly until after the rainfall months when it is harvested by digging it out of the ground. By depicting the Yam Dreaming in their paintings, indigenous artists are able to pay homage to this significant plant and encourage its continual rejuvenation.

The women perform in their Awelye ceremonies certain songlines and dance cycles to show respect for their country and to ensure continues productivity of the Desert yam.