CHARLIE PETYARRE JONES
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Artist Profile · Northern Territory
Charlie Petyarre Jones
Utopia artist painting the ceremonial ground designs handed down by his father, Freddy Kngwarreye Jones.
Born
c. 1968
Language group
Alyawarr
Skin name
Petyarre (also spelled Pitjara)
Region
Thelye, Utopia, NT
Father and son
Charlie Petyarre Jones is the son of the renowned Utopia artist Freddy Kngwarreye Jones, who decided what could be shown and painted from the family’s Dreamings.
As well as passing his Dreamings on to Charlie, Freddy taught him his technique in acrylic painting, and father and son often worked together on paintings of their Dreaming.
His work
Charlie paints the Dreamings of the Kangaroo (Aherr), Caterpillar (Aylperlayt), Wallaby (Greyneng) and Snake (Kwerreny). These designs are made on the ground during long ceremonial song cycles that follow the journeys of the Ancestors. Like his father’s, his paintings look down on the land from above, mapping the sites and tracks of the Ancestors in strong, geometric designs.
Aylperlayt (Caterpillar)
Greyneng (Wallaby)
Kwerreny (Snake)
Ground designs
Buying Charlie’s work
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Paintings by Charlie Petyarre Jones on eBay
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