Gloria Petyarre

Gloria Tamerre Petyarre (Australian Aboriginal, c.1945-)
Birthplace: Atnangkere Soakage
Language: Anmatyerre
Region: Utopia in Northern Territory

Brief Biography:
In the 1970's, Gloria was a founding member of the Utopia Women's Batik Group. With wonderful confidence, she merged the traditional iconography of the Anmatyerre onto the new medium of silk. A very innovative and dynamic artist, Gloria exerted a great influence on others in the group. In the early 1980s, Gloria made her first painting on canvas and soon developed her unique style of depicting the stories and her understanding of the traditional country.rnrnThe main dreamtime stories that she paints are the medicine leaves from Mulga bush, Mountain Devil Lizard, Bean, Emu, Pencil Yam, Grass Seed and Small Brown Grass as well as the traditional body paint designs worn by women. Gloria is a recipient of many awards. She is a renowned contemporary artist in Australia and her works are widely exhibited and collected world wide.rnrnGloria was named as one of Australia's 50 most collectible artists by Australian Art Collector magazine in 1999 and 2000.