Rosemary Bird Petyarre

Rosemary Bird Petyarrewas born in the early 1950s at Atneltye, or Boundary Bore, on Utopia Station in the Northern Territory, located 270 kilometers northeast of Alice Springs. She carries a formidable artistic lineage as the niece of the renowned Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye, the sister of Jeannie Petyarre, and the half-sister of artists Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Evelyn Pultara. In addition, she shares a skin sisterhood with other well-known artists, including Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre, and Ada Bird Petyarre.

With creativity coursing through her veins, Rosemary Petyarre was among the pioneering Anmatyerre women at the forefront of the Aboriginal art movement at Utopia. Commencing her artistic journey with batik works, she transitioned to painting under the encouragement of her aunt, Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

As a woman deeply connected to the bush, Rosemary draws inspiration from her land, with its diverse species of bush tucker, medicinal plants, and native fauna. The stories passed down from her ancestors, channelled through her aunt Emily, form the foundation of her paintings. Rosemary's art often centres on representations of leaves collected from her country, particularly those used for medicinal purposes. The recurring themes of Bush Yam Leaves and Bush Medicine are eloquently portrayed through flowing depictions of leaves, a hallmark of her work. In the tradition of Utopia artists, Rosemary revels in the vibrant use of colour.

Presently dividing her time between Utopia and Alice Springs, Rosemary Petyarre stands as a highly skilled artist among the illustrious names in Aboriginal art associated with Utopia Homelands. Her paintings have found homes in collections around the globe, attesting to her esteemed status as an established Aboriginal artist.