Biography

Born in 1960 Anna Petyarre (Pitjara) is a Anmatyere women who lives and works in the Utopia community in the Northern Territory. She began painting about 1981 and comes from a well-known artistic family. Her mother was Glory Ngala, and her aunt was Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

Anna primarily paints stories associated with the women’s Yam Seed Dreaming rituals. Her early works featured the traditional style iconography used by many artists in the area, but she quickly developed her own unique style. Her My Country paintings depict the paths walked by women searching for yams and water and the water courses that run through the desert after the rain. The tiny white veils of dots represent the yam seeds.

She also paints the vibrant bush yam story which is a celebration of the bush yam ceremony. These works use the bright desert colours and flowing movements that go with ceremonial songs she sings while painting.