Gloria Petyarre

DOB: c.1945 - 
BORN: Atnangkere, NT
LANGUAGE GROUP: Anmatyerre / Alyawarre
COMMUNITY: Utopia, NT

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Gloria was born around 1945 in her country of Atnangkere. She lived in traditional ways before moving to Utopia, one of the established settlements. The Utopia Pastoral Lease was drawn up in 1927 and forced many of the Aboriginal people in this area out of their traditional lands. In 1977 the people of Utopia gained a 99-year leasehold on the Utopia Pastoral Lease which was purchased through the Aboriginal Land Fund Council.   A batik program was proposed and became a major success with Gloria being one of the leading artists in this format. It also provided the town of Utopia and its artists with an income and a claim of recognition. Gloria was one of the original artists employed in this program. Her work gained rapid recognition. The Utopia artists then planned a program called 'A Summer Project' whereby they moved from batik to acrylics on canvas. The project was a major success with Gloria and many other artists moving full time into acrylic on canvas.

Gloria paints the traditional women's business subjects that are predominant in Utopia. 

The main Dreamings that she paints are the Mountain Devil Lizard, Bean, Emu, Pencil Yam, Grass Seed and Small Brown Grass as well as the traditional body paint designs worn by women.