Biography

Born in 1960 Anna Petyarre (also known as Price, 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 with earthy tones contrasting the white or pale coloured detail of the story. 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.

Collections:

Anthropology Art Museum, Perth
Art Bank, Sydney
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
Fondation Burkhardt-Felder Arts et Culture, Motiers, Switzerland
Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
Robert Holmes a Court Collection, Perth
The Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth
Victorian Art Centre, Melbourne