Kathleen was born in 1930 to a family of well-known artists. She is the sister of the well-known Gloria Petyarre, Ada Bird Petyarre, Violet Petyarre, Myrtle Petyarre Jeannie Petyarre and Nancy Petyarre. Kathleen’s work has been recognised for its unique designs, which relay the intimate knowledge of her country. She is one of the most collectable Australian artists, which is reflected in her many collections, awards, and notable auction results.
The ‘Mountain Devil Lizard’ is a small reptile commonly known as the Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus). This dragon-like creature possesses chameleon-like colour changing abilities, barbs and humps across its back and a thorn-like structure on its head. The ‘Mountain Devil Lizard’ inhabits the dune areas of the Anmatyerre country and relies on small insects for its survival.
Awards
1998 - Winner, Peoples Choice Award.
1998 - Seppelts Contemporary Art Award,The Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW.
1997 - Overall Winner, Visy Board Art Prize, Barossa Vintage Festival Art Show, Nuriootpa, SA.
1996 - Joint Second Prize, Open Award Category - The Third National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Heritage Commission Art Award, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
1996 - Overall Winner, Telstra 13th National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Award, Darwin, NT, Australia.
Collections
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
ATSIC Collection, Adelaide.
Collection de Musee des Arts dAfrique et dOceanie, Paris, France.
Edith Cowan University, Perth.
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Peabody Anthropology and Ethnology Museum, Havard University, USA.
Riddoch Regional Art Gallery, Mount Gambier, SA.
The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth.
The John W. Kluge Collection, Charlottesville, Va, USA.
The Kelton Foundation, California, USA.
The Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth.
University of South Australia Art Museum, Adelaide.
Exhibitions
1999 - Recent Paintings by Kathleen Petyarre, Mary Place Gallery, Paddington, Sydney; Paintings by Kathleen Petyarre, Gallerie Australis, Adelaide.
1998 - Arnkerrthe - My Dreaming, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
1996 - Kathleen Petyarre - Storm in Aknangkerre Country, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne.
