Nancy Petyarre facts for kids
Nancy Kunoth Petyarre was an amazing Aboriginal Australian artist. She lived in a place called Utopia, which is about 170 miles northeast of Alice Springs. She was born sometime between 1934 and 1939 and passed away in August 2009.
Nancy was one of seven famous Petyarre sisters who were all artists. Her sisters included Ada Bird, Myrtle Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Jeanna Petyarre, and the well-known Kathleen Petyarre and Gloria Petyarre. Even though her sisters painted a lot, Nancy didn't create as many artworks.
She was most famous for her detailed dot paintings. These designs showed the skin patterns of the Arnkerrthe, also known as the Mountain Devil Lizard. Nancy Kunoth Petyarre is buried near another famous artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Early Life and Home
Nancy Kunoth Petyarre was born at a place called Soakage Bore. This area is close to Waite River, about 50 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs. We don't know her exact birth year because records from that time are not available.
She grew up in the Utopia area with her four brothers. Her parents, Topsey Pwerle and Mick Kngwarreye, lived a traditional life in the desert. Nancy spoke the Anmatyerre language.
Becoming an Artist
Nancy didn't start painting until she was in her forties, in the 1980s. She first worked with batik, which is a method of dyeing fabric using wax. Later, she began painting on canvas.
She also created beautiful carvings. These carvings have been shown in many art exhibitions. Her most well-known artworks are "Mountain Devil Dreaming" and "Body Paint."
Her first art show was in 1989. It was a group exhibition at the S. H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney. At that time, she was thought to be around 50 years old.
Where to See Her Art
Nancy Kunoth Petyarre's artwork is kept in important art collections. You can find her pieces in:
- The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin, Australia.
- The National Gallery of Australia.
- The Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- The Robert Holmes à Court Collection in Western Australia. Her work is also featured in a book about Utopia art called Utopia – A Picture Story, 88 Silks batiks, from 1990, by Anne Brody.
- The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
