Nancy Petyarre

Nancy Kunoth Petyarre (between 1934 and 1939 – August 2009) was an Australian Aboriginal artist who lived in Utopia, 170 miles north east of Alice Springs. The second eldest of the famous and prolific 'seven famous Petyarre sisters' of Utopia (Ada Bird, Myrtle Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Jeanna Petyarre and most notably Kathleen Petyarre and Gloria Petyarre), she was not herself a prolific artist.^[1]

Nancy Kunoth Petyarre was best known for her fine dot designs representing the skin on the back of Arnkerrthe, the Mountain Devil Lizard. She is buried next to Emily Kame Kngwarreye in a little-known spot along the Sandover Highway.^[2]

Petyarre was born at Soakage Bore, near Waite River, about 50 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, sometime between 1934 and 1939 (reports conflict, and records do not exist). She grew up with four brothers, speaking the Anmatyerre language, in the area known as Utopia, where her parents, Topsey Pwerle and Mick Kngwarreye had lived traditional lives in the desert.^[3]

It was not until she was in her forties, in the 1980s, that Nancy started painting. She worked first on batik and later on canvas. She also made carvings which have featured in many exhibitions. Her most famous works are "Mountain Devil Dreaming" and "Body Paint". Her first exhibition came when she was believed to be around 50 years old, at Sydney's S. H. Ervin Gallery as part of a group show in 1989.^[1]

Her work is represented in the collections of:^{[citation needed]}

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia
The National Gallery of Australia
The Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Robert Holmes à Court Collection, Western Australia in a book entitled Utopia – A Picture Story, 88 Silks batiks, 1990, Anne Brody
The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

Exhibitions

1989, Utopia Women’s Paintings, the First Works On Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988–89, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
1989, Aboriginal Art, The Continuing Tradition, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
1990, Utopia, A Picture Story, an exhibition of 88 works on silk from the Holmes a Court Collection by Utopia artists which toured Éire and Scotland
1992, Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
1993, Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
1994, Central Australian Aboriginal Arts and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
1994, Yapakurlangu Wirrkardu, Bachelor College, Tennant Creek, NT
1999, June–August, "Caring for Country – Artists of Utopia", Tandanya, S.A
2001, Mountain Devil Lizard – Arnkerrthe, Myrtle Petyarre, Nancy Petyarre and Violet Petyarre, July Exhibition: Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs
2001, August, Seven Sisters Petyarre: Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane
2002, August, Redback Art Utopia Women
2002, September–October, Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions: Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, TN; 'The Cove Gallery', Portland, OR; Urban Wine Works, Portland, OR; Mary's Woods, Portland, OR
2003, June, Seven Sisters, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Sydney
2003, September–October, Mbantua Gallery USA exhibitions: New City Merchants, Knoxville, TN; Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, TN; 'The Cove Gallery' Portland, OR; Mary's Woods, Portland, OR
2003, October, Contemporary Aboriginal Art Event, Umpqua Bank in conjunction with Mbantua Gallery, Portland, Oregon USA
2003, October, Art from the Dreamtime, Portland Art Museum, Portland OR USA
2004, August–September, Mbantua Gallery USA exhibition; Portland, Nashville, Knoxville and Hartford
2005, May–June, Small Wonders’ (A collection of 1’x1’ and 1’x1½’ paintings), Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, N.T
2004–2006 Evolution of Utopia, Mbantua Gallery Cultural Museum, Alice Springs
2007 YAPA Dreamings, Galerie YAPA n conjunction with Muk Muk Fine Art (now Mitchell Fine Art), Paris.
2007 Women’s Dreamings, Red – Australian Contemporary Art in conjunction with Muk Muk Fine Art (now Mitchell Fine Art), London.
2008 Painting Country, United Galleries in conjunction with Muk Muk Fine Art (now Mitchell Fine Art), Perth.
2012 Little Gems, Muk Muk Fine Art (now Mitchell Fine Art), Alice Springs
2012 Colours of Spring, Muk Muk Fine Art (now Mitchell Fine Art), Brisbane.
2014 Visions of Utopia, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
2019, Arnkerrthe, Nancy Kunoth Petyarre, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane

References

^ ^a ^b Louise Schwartzkoff (13 November 2009). "Late starter who made it to the top". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
^ "Nancy Kunoth Petyarre at Mbantua Gallery". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
^ "Nancy Kunoth Petyarre". Retrieved 15 November 2009.

[smh-1] Louise Schwartzkoff (13 November 2009). "Late starter who made it to the top". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 November 2009.

[mbantua-2] "Nancy Kunoth Petyarre at Mbantua Gallery". Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2009.

[3] "Nancy Kunoth Petyarre". Retrieved 15 November 2009.

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v t e Central and Western Desert art
Institutions	Araluen Cultural Precinct Contemporary Indigenous Australian art Hermannsburg School List of Indigenous Australian art movements and cooperatives National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Papunya Tula
Significant places	Alice Springs, Northern Territory Balgo, Western Australia Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory Kintore, Northern Territory Papunya, Northern Territory Pukatja (Ernabella), South Australia Utopia, Northern Territory Yuendumu, Northern Territory
Artists: women	Wawiriya Burton Josepha Petrick Kemarre Tjungkara Ken Lucy Napaljarri Kennedy Emily Kame Kngwarreye Barbara Mbitjana Moore Betty Muffler Doreen Reid Nakamarra Narputta Nangala Ada Andy Napaltjarri Biddy Rockman Napaljarri Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri Eileen Napaltjarri Helen Nelson Napaljarri Kitty Pultara Napaljarri Linda Syddick Napaltjarri Louisa Napaljarri Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri Mona Rockman Napaljarri Ngoia Pollard Napaltjarri Nora Andy Napaltjarri Norah Nelson Napaljarri Parara Napaltjarri Peggy Rockman Napaljarri Sheila Brown Napaljarri Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri Takariya Napaltjarri Tjunkiya Napaltjarri Topsy Gibson Napaltjarri Valerie Lynch Napaltjarri Wintjiya Napaltjarri Makinti Napanangka Dorothy Napangardi Pansy Napangardi Naata Nungurrayi Gloria Petyarre Kathleen Petyarre Nancy Petyarre Minnie Pwerle Maggie Napaljarri Ross Margaret Scobie Barbara Weir Ruby Tjangawa Williamson Yaritji Young
Artists: men	Hector Burton Albert Namatjira Tiger Palpatja Wenten Rubuntja Paddy Japaljarri Stewart Anatjari Tjakamarra Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra Kaapa Tjampitjinpa Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayi Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri Timmy Payungka Tjapangati Yannima Tommy Watson
Major works	Earth's Creation Gulgardi Warlugulong

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Australia
Artists	South Australia