Tanya Bird Mpetyane / Women’s Ceremony (TB63)

Tanya Bird Mpetyane is an Anmatyerre woman born in 1981, with deep ties to the Utopia region of the Northern Territory.

Tanya comes from a celebrated family of artists. Her mother, Eileen Bird, is a respected painter, and her late father, Paddy Bird, was a talented artist known for his contributions to the Utopia art movement. Tanya’s sister, Alvira Bird Mpetyane, is also an accomplished artist, and together they continue the family’s artistic legacy.

A strong early influence on Tanya’s artistic journey was her late grandmother, Ada Bird Petyarre — one of the most prominent painters to emerge from Utopia. Tanya was extremely close to her grandmother, often sitting with her as she painted and learning by watching, listening, and absorbing the stories Ada shared. This deep bond helped shape Tanya’s understanding of culture, Country, and the power of art as a form of storytelling and connection.

Tanya paints traditional Anmatyerre Dreamings passed down through generations. Her work depicts themes such as Awelye (Women’s Ceremony) for Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Alpar (Rat-tail Plant), and Ntang Artety (Mulga Seed). These stories celebrate women’s knowledge, connection to the land, and the seasonal harvesting of bush foods and medicines.

In 2013, Tanya was selected as a finalist in the 30th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), held at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin — a testament to the strength and cultural depth of her work.

Through her art, Tanya shares the richness of her heritage, translating ancient stories into contemporary works that reflect the enduring traditions of Utopia.

Tanya currently lives at Mulga Bore (Akaye Soakage), a small outstation in Utopia with her husband and children. Her artworks have been exhibited in group exhibitions and are held in private collections throughout Australia and internationally.

Tanya has painted a richly detailed interpretation of Women’s Ceremony, bringing together elements of Country, bush foods, water sources and the cultural knowledge shared among women.

For Anmatyerre women, ceremony is an important way of maintaining connections to Country and passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Women come together at significant places to sing, dance, share stories, prepare food and teach younger women about their cultural responsibilities and the traditions associated with the land.

Throughout the painting, intricate patterns, flowing lines and circular forms create a richly layered landscape. The many plant-like motifs evoke the bush foods, seeds, roots and flowering plants found across the Utopia region, while other forms suggest waterholes, gathering places and the pathways travelled by women as they move across Country.

Rather than depicting a single place or event, the painting brings together many aspects of women’s life on Country. Bush foods and reliable water sources are essential when women travel through the landscape, particularly when gathering together for ceremony, which may continue over several days.

The extraordinary detail within the work reflects the richness of the knowledge held by women and the close relationship between ceremony, family, food, water and Country. Through her painting, Tanya celebrates the continuation of these traditions and the enduring importance of women coming together to share knowledge and care for Country.