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Artist Profile · Northern Territory
Josie Kunoth Petyarre
Anmatyerre sculptor and painter whose bean tree footballers took Utopia to the MCG.
Born
c. 1954, Alhalkere, Utopia, NT
Language group
Anmatyerre
Skin name
Petyarre (also Petyarr, Pitjara)
Community
Apungalindum (Pungalindum) outstation, Utopia
Family
Josie Kunoth Petyarre was born around 1954 at Alhalkere in the Utopia region and went to school in Alice Springs as a girl. She comes from one of Utopia’s great artistic families: her mother was the late Polly Ngale, and her aunts are Kathleen Ngale and Angelina Pwerle. Her father was Alec Ngwarai.
She is married to the sculptor Dinny Kunoth Kemarre, and the couple live with their family on their traditional lands at Apungalindum outstation.
Josie is not the same artist as Josie Petrick Kemarre, a Utopia painter of a different family and skin group.
From batik to bush footy
Josie has been part of the Utopia art movement since the late 1980s. She made batik for the project that became Utopia – A Picture Story, then moved to canvas through CAAMA’s Summer Project. Her early paintings show Awelye (women’s body paint designs), Yam Dreaming and her Country, Alhalkere.
In 2005 she began carving, and Dinny, a former stockman, soon joined her. Working with axe, tomahawk and rasp, they shape figures from the light wood of the bean tree, then paint them. Their subjects include animals, ceremonial figures, cars and everyday objects, but they are best known for their footballers, celebrating Aussie Rules from bush teams to the AFL.
A trip to the AFL Grand Final inspired a new direction in her painting too: lively, realist scenes of Melbourne, such as Melbourne Story from Arlparra Store to the MCG (2008).
Bean tree carving
Awelye (Body Paint)
Yam Dreaming
Alhalkere Country
Batik
Highlights
- 2007 – AFL World, Melbourne: painted sculptures of a footballer from every AFL team
- 2008 – Finalist, Basil Sellers Art Prize
- 2008 – Joint finalist, Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
- Work held in the British Museum, London
Related artists
Josie’s husband Dinny Kunoth Kemarre carves alongside her. Her sister Bessie Petyarre, aunt Angelina Pwerle and cousin Elizabeth Mpetyane are painters.
Buying Josie’s work
For authenticated pieces, buy through a recognised Indigenous art gallery such as Mbantua Gallery or Utopia Lane Art, and always ask for a certificate of authenticity.
Works by Josie Kunoth Petyarre on eBay
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