Jedda Purvis Kngwarreye / Bush Flowers (JPK18)

Jedda was born in 1969 and is the daughter to the late Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Kathleen Kemarre. Greeny was an international artist and senior custodian for Alhalkere country. Jedda’s Great Aunt is the late Emily Kngwarreye – arguably Australia’s most famous aboriginal artist. They have assisted and instructed this talented painter both culturally and artistically.

Jedda, along with her sister Judy, is a naturally talented artist whose works are sort after by collectors both in Australia and overseas. She is without a doubt one of the shining lights of the younger generation of Aboriginal artists. Jedda was involved with the Utopia Batik movement and her work features in the prestigious Holmes á Court collection.

Collections
• The Holmes á Court Collection, Perth
• Mbantua Gallery Private Collection, Alice Springs

Exhibitions

1989
• Utopia Women’s Paintings, the First Works On Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988-89, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney

1990
• Utopia- A Picture Story, an exhibition of 88 works on silk from the Robert Holmes á Court Collection by Utopia Artists which toured Eire and Scotland

2002
• Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A
• ‘The Cove Gallery’ Portland, Oregon U.S.A
• Urban Wine Works, Portland, Oregon U.S.A
• Mary’s Woods, Portland, Oregon U.S.A

Aug-Sep 2004
• Mbantua Gallery USA exhibition; Knoxville, Tennessee

The Western desert has an extreme dry climate. The summer is hot with temperatures often exceeding forty degrees Celsius. In winter the nights are freezing cold from June to August. During the droughts, vegetation is sparse and only spinifex and mulga shrubs subsist though they appear withered and lifeless. After the infrequent rain the desert landscape is transformed.

The dried out spinifex flower resembles a field of wheat and the mulga shrub bears green dense foliage and masses of bright yellow flowers. Growing amongst these plants is an abundance of wildflowers that turns the deep red coloured desert floor into a utopian garden.