Utopia Aboriginal Art
A selection of paintings showing the styles from this Aboriginal art region - some paintings may still be available for sale, while some may have been sold.
 Barbara Weir | Mother’s Country |  Kate Pitjara | Bush Plum Dreaming |  Charmaine Pwerle | Awelye – Body Paint |  Cowboy Loy Pwerl | Bush Turkey Dreaming |  Kudditji Kngwarreye | Ankerre – Emu Dreaming at Alhalkere |  Jeannie Petyarre | Bush Medicine Leaves |  Belinda Golder Kngwarreye | Bush Yam – My Country |  Gloria Petyarre | Mountain Devil Lizard Dreaming |  Polly Ngale | Bush Plum Dreaming |  Charmaine Pwerle | Awelye – Body Paint |  Gracie Morton Pwerle | Bush Plum Dreaming |  Kudditji Kngwarreye | My Country |  Bernadine Johnson | Bush Medicine Leaves |  Raymond Walters Japanangka | Anmatyerre Traditional Stories – Mens Ceremony |  Kathleen Ngal | Bush Plum Flowers |  Jeannie Mills Pwerle | Bush Yam |  Belinda Golder Kngwarreye | Bush Plum Dreaming |  Bernadine Johnson | Bush Medicine Leaves |  Ruby Morton Kngwarray | Rainbow Country |  Gracie Morton Pwerle | Bush Medicine LeavesPending Payment |  Kathleen Petyarre | Bush Seed Dreaming |  Lucky Morton Kngwarray | Untitled |  Roseanne Pwerle Morton | Yam Seed |  Polly Ngale | Bush Plum Dreaming |
Utopia is located 270 km north-east of Alice Springs on the eastern perimeter of the Western Desert ‘bloc’, next to the traditional Aboriginal lands of the Eastern Anmatyarre and Alyawarre people. It was named by the first white settlers in 1927 and occupies 1800 square kilometres of desert country.
In 1979 a successful land claim saw the Utopia Aboriginal community gain permanent legal title to the leasehold, and it was the Utopia women who played a key role. In 1978 the women had learned the art of batik as a means to establish a source of income in preparation for the land claim hearing. By demonstrating the economic viability of the outstations through their batik work, the women were justifying their legal and moral right to their land.
In 1988 the Aboriginal artists were introduced to the mediums of canvas and acrylic paint, which enabled them to produce paintings that were even more distinctive than the batiks. This new creative wave saw the rise of many famous artists of the Aboriginal art movement, including the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre, Minnie Pwerle, Kudditji Kngwarreye, Barbara Weir, and many others. Artists from Utopia are highly regarded for the diversity and richness of their artworks.
Further information is available on exhibiting artists on the following links
Minnie Pwerle
Kudditji Kngwarreye
Anna Petyarre
Gloria Petyarre
Galya Pwerle
Abie Loy Kemarre
Betty Mbitjana
Barbara Weir
Bernadine Johnson
Charmaine Pwerle
June Bird
Rosemary Petyarre
The Emily Kngwarreye Phenomenon
Dulcie Long Pwerle
Kudditji Kngwarreye Exhibition
The Colourists – Exhibition
Sandover River Exhibition
Polly Ngale