Ada Bird Petyarre
Overview
Ada Bird Petyarre (c. 1930–2009) was a senior Anmatyerr woman and a pioneering figure in the contemporary Aboriginal art movement in the Utopia region of Central Australia. She began her artistic career in the late 1970s as part of the Utopia Women’s Batik Group — an influential initiative that empowered women to share cultural knowledge through artmaking.In the late 1980s, Ada transitioned to acrylic on canvas, marking the start of a prolific painting practice that played a vital role in the international recognition of Utopia artists. Her early works are characterised by intricate dot work, while in the 1990s she developed a more linear, expressive style, using vivid hues and bold, sweeping brushstrokes.Ada Bird Petyarre's paintings often depict women’s ceremonial body paint designs (Awelye), featuring symbolic representations of breasts and other sacred motifs. Her work celebrates the central role of women in cultural and spiritual life, embodying a visual language deeply rooted in ritual, kinship, and connection to Country. Dramatic and fluid, her compositions reflect both a strong personality and a profound commitment to preserving ancestral knowledge through art.
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