Biography

An Anmatyerre Artist Violet Petyarre was born C.1938. Her sisters are artists Kathleen Petyarre, Gloria Petyarre, Ada Bird, Nancy, Myrtle and Jean Petyarre. Like the majority of her sisters, she was involved in the early batik movement that established the women artists of Utopia. The artists were shown how to work with Batik in indonesia in the late 1970's and early 1980's, transitioning to working on can with acrylic paints in the late 1980's. Her work is represented in the Holmes á Court collection. Violet's dreaming or main subject is the Mountain Devil Lizard (from her father's country), using the body paint design associated with the Mountain Devil Ceremony. She is known for her use of strong linear patterns and colours.

Collections

Artbank, Sydney

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

The Holmes á Court Collection, Perth

Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs

The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica USA