Gracie Morton Pwerle / Bush Plum Dreaming (GM204)

Gracie was born c. 1956 in Utopia, Northern Territory where she still resides today. She is part of the famous Petyarre family – her mother was senior artist Myrtle Petyarre and her Aunties include Gloria, Kathleen, Violet, Nancy and Ada Bird Petyarre, all international artists.

Along with her mother and famous aunties, Gracie started to paint on batik in the 1980’s and her work was featured in the prestigious Robert Holmes à Court Collection. Gracie started painting on canvas in 1992.

Gracie is one of the senior traditional custodians for both the Altyerre (Dreaming) and the vast expanse of related country, some 263kms north of Alice Springs.

Gracie’s work has been exhibited and collected throughout Australia and Overseas.

Selected Collections
• Beher Collection, Reimers Foundation, Deidesheim, Germany
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
• Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
• Artbank, Sydney
• Holmes a Court Collection, Perth
• Slaughter and May International Law, London

Selected Solo Exhibitions
• 2002 Land is Life. Art from Australia, Jagdschloss Granitz, Binz, Ruegen, Germany
• 2002 Kulturnacht, Aboriginal Art Galerie Baehr, Speyer, Germany
• 2001-02 Recounting the Essence of Life. Art from Australia, Kunstforum HDZ, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
• 2001 The Unseen in Scene, Staedtische Galerie Wolfsburg, Germany
• 2001 Alliance Francaise de Canberra , Canberra
• 2000 Mosquito Bore – The Art of the Minimalist, Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Australia
• 2000 Kunst der Aborigines, Leverkusen, Germany
• 2000 Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Cairns, Australia

Selected Group Exhibitions
• 2021 Sounds of Summer 2, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle
• 2020 60 by 60 – Small Paintings, Japingka Gallery, Perth
• 2020 Cup of Joy – New Works from Rising Stars, Japingka Gallery, Perth
• 2018 Painting on Country – Utopia Artists, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
• 2007 Multiple exhibitions in Beijing – Redrock Gallery, China World Exhibition Centre, Beijing, PR China
• 2006 Redrock Gallery, South Yarra
• 2003 Chapel off Chapel Gallery, Melbourne
• 1999 Alliance Francaise de Canberra and French Embassy, Canberra
• 1999 My Country – Journey of our Ancestors, Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Cairns
• 1999 Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs
• 1999 Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
• 1998 Utopia und Balgo Hills, Aboriginal Art Galerie Baehr, Speyer, Germany
• 1998 Dreamings, Spazio Pitti Arte, Florence
• 1998 Culture Store, Art Gallery, Rotterdam
• 1996 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1994 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1993 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1992 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1991 8th National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
• 1991 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1989-91 Utopia: A Picture Story, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide
• 1989 – 91 The Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Ireland
• 1989 – 91 Meat Market Gallery, Melbourne
• 1989 Utopia Women’s Paintings. The First Works on Canvas. A Summer Project, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
• 1986 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
• 1985 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs

The bush yam is renowned for its medicinal properties. It is a special plant that is used to aid in the healing process. The leaves and fruits are collected and then boiled to extract the resin from the leaves. After this the resin is mixed with kangaroo fat. This creates a paste that can be stored for up to six months in bush conditions. This medicine is used to heal cuts, wounds, bites, rashes and as an insect repellent.

By painting the bush plum seeds, Gracie is paying homage to the spirit of the medicine plant in the hope that it will regenerate, enabling the people to use its healing powers.