Joy Kngwarreye Jones
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Artist Profile · Northern Territory
Joy Kngwarreye Jones
Alyawarr painter of rhythmic, two-colour Awelye designs, from a family of Utopia greats.
Born
1961, MacDonald Downs Station, NT
Language group
Alyawarr
Skin name
Kngwarreye
Community
Outstation in northern Utopia, NT
Family
Joy Kngwarreye Jones was born in 1961 on MacDonald Downs Station, north-east of Alice Springs, and lives on an outstation at the northern end of Utopia. Alyawarr Country stretches from Utopia east to Lake Nash on the Queensland border.
She is the daughter of Jacob Jones, a senior Alyawarr lawman on Utopia, and the youngest painter in a family of artists. Her brother was Freddy Kngwarreye Jones, her eldest sister the late Lily Sandover Kngwarreye, and her adopted sister the celebrated Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Her work
Joy took part in the early Utopia art movement, showing in Utopia Women’s Paintings (1989) and the touring Utopia – A Picture Story (1990). After some years away she returned to painting seriously in 2006.
She is best known for Awelye, the body designs painted on women for ceremony. Working with a stick and a gutta nib, usually in just two colours, she builds intricate, meticulous patterns with a rhythmic, lyrical flow and bold, confident strokes.
Two-colour palette
Linear designs
Highlights
- 1989 – Utopia Women’s Paintings, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
- 1990 – Utopia – A Picture Story, Holmes à Court Collection, touring Ireland and Scotland
- 1992 – Modern Art, Ancient Icon, The World Bank, Washington DC
- 2012 – Exploring Oceania, Milan
- 2017 – Sacred Marks, JGM Gallery, London
- Collections include the Queensland Art Gallery, the Holmes à Court Collection and the Aboriginal Art Museum, Netherlands
Related artists
Joy’s brother Freddy Kngwarreye Jones, her nephew Charlie Petyarre Jones, Carmen Pitjara Jones and her adopted sister Emily Kame Kngwarreye all have profiles.
Buying Joy’s work
For authenticated paintings, buy through a recognised Indigenous art gallery such as Palya Fine Art, and always ask for a certificate of authenticity.
Paintings by Joy Kngwarreye Jones on eBay
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