Abie Loy Kemarre

Abie Loy Kemarre: Artistic Journey and Legacy

Abie Loy Kemarre's artistic journey is deeply anchored in her Aboriginal heritage and the vibrant cultural traditions of the Utopia community. Surrounded by art from a young age, her unique style and steadfast dedication to her craft have established her as a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene.

Abie’s works on canvas have been exhibited and collected both nationally and internationally. Her paintings are included in major collections around the world, and she has twice been a finalist in the Telstra NATSIAA Awards. She is widely recognised as one of the most talented and exciting young Aboriginal artists.

Born circa 1972 in Utopia, Abie Loy Kemarre is a third-generation Aboriginal painter from an exceptional painting family. Her grandmother, Kathleen Petyarre, is a celebrated Aboriginal artist who began her career during the batik era and remains a pivotal figure in the Aboriginal painting movement. Abie was just six years old when the batik movement commenced in Utopia, and the activity of art-making has always surrounded her, blending indigenous modernity with traditional upbringing.

Drawing upon traditional ‘dreamings’ and mythologies, Abie has developed innovative painting techniques, creating a body of work that positions her at the forefront of the ‘rising generation’ of Utopia painters. Today, she is regarded as one of the most talented and exciting young Indigenous artists, noted for her discipline, innovation, and technique.

Abie’s reputation is built upon her exceptional attention to detail and her mastery of fine dotting. From the outset, she demonstrated artistic talent and technical skill in both batik and canvas. While she is among the leading contemporary painters in Australia, her subject matter remains rooted in tradition, including Bush Turkey Dreaming, Bush Leaves, Bush Hen, and Body Paint.

One of Abie’s major themes is the female Bush Hen, depicted walking and eating her way through her ancestral country, and occasionally flying. As she travels, the Bush Hen consumes her favourite fruit, the desert raisin. Another significant Dreaming is the Bush Leaf, inherited from her father’s side. The bush leaf grows in a swamp near sandhills close to Utopia in her grandfather’s country and is prized for its curative properties. These leaves are traditionally used to treat a range of ailments—such as colds, headaches, and sores—by making a paste to rub on the body or mixing with water to drink as a remedy.