Rosemary Petyarre was born in Atneltye or Boundary Bore on Utopia Station, Northern Territory. As a bush woman, she is familiar with her land and its abundance of bush tucker species, medicine plants and native fauna. These are the stories inherited by her, along with important women’s stories, and these form the basis of her paintings. Rosemary is sister to famous Aboriginal artist Greeny Purvis Petyarre. Other famous Petyarre artists include well known Gloria Petyarre, Jeannie Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre, Ada Bird Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Myrtle Petyarre, Margaret Petyarre and Nancy Petyarre.

Like most other Utopian artists, Rosemary began her formal artist career with the Holmes a’Court ‘Summer Project’ in 1988 producing batik, which led to painting with acrylic on canvas. Varied from traditional iconography to blossoming plant life and vibrant colours. Rosemary was one of a group of Anmatyerre women at the forefront of the art movement in the Utopia area and was amongst a group of women from Utopia who travelled to Indonesia to learn different techniques for producing batik. Following the Holmes a Court Summer Project, sponsored by CAAMA in 1988-89, she spread her wings and commenced painting with acrylic on canvas.

Bibliography:

Brody, A., 1990, Utopia: a Picture Story, 88 Silk Batiks from the Robert Holmes a Court Collection, Heytesbury Holdings Ltd, Perth. (C)

Cochrane, G., 1992, The Crafts Movement in Australia: a History, New South Wales University Press, Kensington, New South Wales. (C)