Rosemary Petyarre / Bush Medicine Leaves (RP091)

Rosemary Petyarre was born in 1961 at Boundary Bore outstation, Utopia. Her country is Alhalkere and her language is Anmatyerre. She is the niece of the acclaimed artist Emily Kngwarreye and younger sister to highly respected artists Greeny Purvis Petyarre, Jeannie Petyarre and Evelyn Pultara. She is also a skin sister to other well-known artists including Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre and Ada Bird Petyarre.

It is clear that Rosemary has painting in her blood. She was one of a group of Anmatyerre women at the forefront of the art movement in the Utopia area. She was amongst a small group of women who travelled to Indonesia to learn various techniques in the manufacturing of batiks. It was after the “summer project” sponsored by the CAAMA network in 1989 that Rosemary spread her wings and started painting with acrylics and canvas.

As a bush woman, she is familiar with her land and its abundance of bush tucker species, medicine plants and native fauna. The stories related to the bush tucker have been inherited by her, along with important women’s stories and form the basis of her paintings.

She is a highly talented artist whose works are sought after by collectors worldwide.

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

• Hank Ebes Collection, Melbourne
• Holmes a’ Court Collection, Perth

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2023
• Central Desert Showcase, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
• Top 20 of 2022, Art Mob, Hobart

2022
• Utopia & Beyond, Art Mob, Hobart
• Connection, National Museum of Australia, Canberra

2021
• Voyage across Aboriginal Australia – Founders’ Favourites, Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Moitiers, Switzerland
• Sounds of Summer 2, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle
• Across the Top 2021, Art Mob, Hobart

2020
• Central Focus, Art Mob, Hobart

2019
• Summer Show & Art Parade, Salt, Queenscliff, VIC

2011
• Thinking outside the square, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2010
• Stories from the Centre, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2008
• Black & White: Inspired by Landscapes, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

1998
• Dacou Gallery, Australia

1996
• The Meeting Place, Touring Exhibition, Australia
• Nangara, Stitching Sint-Jan, Brugge, The Netherlands

1993
• Central Australian Aboriginal Art & Craft Exhibition, Alice Springs

1990
• Utopia – A Picture Story, an exhibition of 88 works on silk from the Holmes a Court Collection by Utopia artists which toured Ireland and Scotland

1989
• Utopia Women’s Paintings: A Summer Project

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 are collected and then boiled to extract the resin from the leaves. After this the resin is mixed with kangaroo fat collected from the kangaroo’s stomach. 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 yam leaves Rosemary 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.