Ruby Morton Kngwarreye
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Artist Profile · Northern Territory
Ruby Morton Kngwarreye
Utopia batik pioneer painting wildflowers, Rainbow and Honey Grevillea Dreamings.
Born
1960s, Utopia, NT
Skin name
Kngwarreye (also Kngwarray)
Country
Ngkwarlerlanem and Arnkawenyerr, Utopia
Art centre
Utopia Art Centre
Family
Ruby Morton Kngwarreye was born at Utopia, north-east of Alice Springs, in Alyawarr Country. She comes from the Morton family of artists: her parents were the late painter Mary Kemarre Morton and the carver Billy Morton Petyarre, and her sisters include Audrey Kngwarreye Morton, Lucky and Sarah Morton. Ruby paints in the tradition of her mother, sisters and aunties.
Her work
Ruby was one of the original group of Utopia women taught batik, and her silk work is part of Utopia – A Picture Story, the 88 batiks now in the Holmes à Court Collection.
She now paints with Utopia Art Centre. Her Dreamings belong to Ngkwarlerlanem and Arnkawenyerr: the wildflowers of her Country, including Alpeyt (acacia flowers), along with the Rainbow, Ilyarn and Ilyarnayt, Tharrkarr (sweet honey grevillea), Yerramp (honey ant) and women’s ceremony. She also paints story paintings of camp life.
Rainbow
Tharrkarr (Honey Grevillea)
Yerramp (Honey Ant)
Story paintings
Batik
Related artists
Ruby’s sister Audrey Kngwarreye Morton paints the same Dreamings, and her father Billy Morton Petyarre was one of Utopia’s first carvers.
Buying Ruby’s work
For authenticated paintings, buy through Utopia Art Centre or a recognised gallery such as Mbantua Gallery, and always ask for a certificate of authenticity.
Paintings by Ruby Morton Kngwarreye on eBay
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