Gloria Petyarre: The Spirit of Country, An Iconic Voice in Contemporary Art

Gloria Petyarre was a senior Anmatyerre artist from the Utopia region of Central Australia and one of the most celebrated painters of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement. Born at Atnangkere, north-east of Alice Springs, she belonged to an artistic dynasty that includes Emily Kame Kngwarreye, her aunt, and Kathleen Petyarre, her sister.

Gloria rose to prominence in the 1990s with her iconic "Bush Medicine Leaf" paintings, a motif that became her artistic signature. These works, composed of rhythmic, sweeping brushstrokes, evoke the motion of leaves blown across the desert landscape, referencing the medicinal properties of plants used in traditional healing practices. Her work balanced cultural depth with a striking modernity, appealing to collectors and institutions alike.

In 1999, Gloria became the first female winner of the Wynne Prize for Landscape Painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales — a major breakthrough for Aboriginal women artists. Her paintings have since been acquired by major public institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and numerous international collections.

Gloria’s work is not only valued for its aesthetic power but also for its role in maintaining and transmitting cultural knowledge. Through her art, she upheld the spiritual significance of her Dreamings and country, embedding ancient stories into each canvas. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Gloria exhibited widely in Australia, the United States, and Europe, earning a reputation as one of the most important Aboriginal artists of her generation.

Major Collections Holding Gloria Petyarre’s Work:

• National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

• Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide

• Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth

• Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane

• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

• Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

• The Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth

• The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth

• The Kelton Foundation, Los Angeles

• British Museum, London

• The Mbantua Gallery Collection, Alice Springs

• Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands

• The Linden Museum, Stuttgart, Germany

• Private collections worldwide, including the USA, UK, Europe, and Asia