Anmanari Brown facts for kids

Anmanari Brown is a famous Australian Aboriginal artist. She helped start a new art movement in the year 2000. This movement happened across the lands of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, and Yankunytjatjara people. Her paintings have become very popular. You can find her artwork in major galleries. These include the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia.

Anmanari Brown's Early Life

Anmanari Brown was born around the 1930s. Her birthplace was Purpurna, a special waterhole for the Pitjantjatjara people. She grew up living a traditional life in the bush. Her family moved around a lot, following food and water. This was before they met people from European-Australian society.

Moving to Warburton

In the 1950s, Anmanari's family moved from the bush. They went to live at Warburton. Many other Aboriginal families also moved there. Warburton was a Christian mission back then. Anmanari went to school there and was taught by missionaries. Later, she moved to Irrunytju. She married Nyakul Dawson there.

Becoming an Artist

Anmanari Brown started her art career in 2000. The women of Irrunytju opened an art center. This center was a community program to help people earn money. Anmanari and other older women began painting for Irrunytju Arts. They painted on linen canvases.

First Art Shows

Their first art show was in 2001. It took place in Perth. Their art combined modern painting styles with old designs. These designs were based on their cultural laws and stories.

Painting with a Friend

From the start, Anmanari often painted with her friend Tjayanka Woods. In 2007, Anmanari's husband passed away. After this, she and Tjayanka moved from Irrunytju. They went to live at Papulankutja, in the Ngaanyatjarra lands. There, they paint for Papulankutja Artists. In April 2010, the two friends had their first art show together. It was at the Vivien Anderson Gallery in Melbourne.

Anmanari's Painting Style

Anmanari Brown mostly paints stories from the Kungkarrakalpa Tjukurpa. This is also known as the Seven Sisters Dreaming. This special connection comes from her mother. Her mother's homeland is Kuru Ala, a very important place for women. The paintings in Anmanari's solo show told stories from this Dreaming.

Symbols in Her Art

Anmanari's paintings are not realistic. She does not draw exact pictures of people or landscapes. Instead, she uses symbols to show them. For example, she uses patterned lines to show paths or journeys. She might use seven small shapes or lines to represent the seven sisters. Sometimes, she also uses colors to mean different things. While she mainly paints on canvas, some of her artworks are made using screen-printing methods.