Violet Petyarre was born c. 1946 at Atnangkere Soakage, 275 kms north-east of Alice Springs. She is the niece of the acclaimed artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye and her paintings are held in private collections and numerous Australian and overseas galleries.

Violet Petyarre and her sisters inherited the Thorny Devil Lizard Dreaming from their paternal grandmother. It tells the story of the Old Woman Devil Lizard who travelled across the country creating the landscape and identifying sacred sites. As custodians of the Dreaming, they are obliged to maintain the story and pass it on to the younger generation. Whilst the sisters share the same Dreaming, each one has developed her own unique, contemporary style and interpretation of her Dreaming.

In depicting her Dreaming stories, Violet Petyarre is noted for her structured composition, linear designs and bold, strong colours. Her designs represent women’s ceremonial body paint design.

Violet Petyarre’s paintings are held in private collections and numerous Australian and overseas galleries.

Body Paint

Aboriginal body art has been historically utilized by various tribes across Australia to signify a wide array of significant cultural rituals. Traditionally, the intricate application of body paint serves as a means for Aboriginal people to represent vital aspects of their lives, including social status, familial affiliations, tribal associations, ancestry, spirituality, and geographic ties.

The Role of Body Painting in Aboriginal Culture

Regardless of the specific region an Aboriginal tribe originates from in Australia, individuals are not permitted to adorn themselves with body paint arbitrarily or create their own designs. Instead, body art is regarded as a sacred transformation that adheres to a stringent set of guidelines. This is due to the fact that the traditional patterns applied are intended to embody the spirits of ancestors. The importance lies not solely in the paint itself but also in the communal painting process, particularly as only relatives have the honor of performing this ritual. Common occasions for body paint application include hunting ceremonies and coming-of-age ceremonies for both men and women.