Jeannie Pitjara Petyarre

Jeannie was born in 1951 on the Boundary Bore Outstation of Utopia, in the Central Desert Region of Australia, into a family of well known artists. Her country is Alhalkere, Boundary Bore, and language Anmatyerre.

Jeannie is a niece of the late great Emily Kame Kngwarreye and sister to Dolly Mills, Rosemary Petyarre and the late Greenie Purvis. She is a cousin of the famous 7 Petyarre sisters of Utopia which include Gloria Petyarre, Nancy, Myrtle, Kathleen, Violet, and Ada Bird. She has 3 sons and 3 daughters, Pandora, Dolcy and Heather.

Jeannie started painting batik work in the eighties. She became a member of one of the most important groups to develop out of desert painting - the Utopia women. Initially this group produced batik work using desert designs on silk and cotton. The success of the batik movement led eventually to the artists - mostly women - trying their hand at painting with acrylic on linen in the summer of 1988-9. Their efforts were well coordinated by CAAMA in what was termed "A Summer Project". The project provided the opportunity for Jeannie to begin as a painter. Her work was featured in the Robert Holmes A Court Collection in 1990.

Jeannie paints the Bush Medicine, Bush Peanut, Yam Leaves, Yam Root Dreamings. She also paints women's ceremony body paint designs for the yam dreaming. Her recent work depicts the rushing movement of the wind through yam leaves - always capturing the spirit and soul of her culture through the use of vibrant colours. Jeannie's work is characterised by vibrant designs celebrating the spirit of the Yam plant as it generates year after year to feed the people. This colourful style was taught to her by her Aunt, the famous Emily Kame Kngwarreye, who told Jeannie before she died that she must continue to paint the family's Yam Dreaming.

Collections
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Holmes-A-Court Collection, Perth

Exhibitions
· 1989 Utopia Women's Paintings A Summer Project
· 1990 A picture Story, 88 silk works from the Holmes A Court Collection, UK
· 1993 Central Australian Aboriginal Art & Craft Exhibition, Alice Springs
· 2005 Cicada Trading at Illayda Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
· 2005 Cicada Trading in Milan, Italy
· 2006 Cicada Trading at Big 5 Exhibition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
· 2006 Cicada Trading at 3rd Annual Clear Lake Exhibition of Aboriginal Paintings, Houston, USA
· 2006 Cicada Trading in Paris, France
· 2006 Cicada Trading at the Bahrain Arts Society, the Kingdom of Bahrain
· 2006 Cicada Trading in Abu Dhabi, UAE
· 2007 Cicada Trading in Abu Dhabi, UAE
· 2007 Cicada Trading in Canterbury, UK
· 2007 Cicada Trading in Paris, France
· 2007 Cicada Trading in Houston, USA