Jeannie was born in 1956 to a family of well-known artists. She is the sister of the well-known Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre, Ada Bird Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Myrtle Petyarre and Nancy Petyarre. Jeannie started painting batik work in the eighties. She paints leaves like her sister Gloria Petyarre, but also Bush Medicine Dreaming, Bush Peanut Dreaming, Mountain Devil Lizard (arnkerrthe) Dreaming, Yam Seed Dreaming. Jeannie, like her sister, is known for the use of vibrant colours.
Jeannie paints bush tucker stories, such as her ‘Bush Yam Dreaming’ and ‘Bush Medicine’ stories. Her work is characterised by vibrant designs celebrating the spirit of the yam plant as it generates year after year to feed the people. ‘Bush Medicine’ relates to the process of mixing various fruits and plants with animal fat to create medicine. These colourful styles were 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 dreamings.
Collections
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
