Delvine Petyarre

Artist: Delvine Petyarre 
Skin name: Petyarre (also spelled Pitjara, Petyarr) 
Language group: Anmatyerre 
Country: Alhalkere
Area: Utopia Region, Central Australia
Born: 1982

Delvine Petyarre is an independent artist from Alhalkere country in the Utopia region in Central Australia. Her technique involves using small applicator bottles to apply paint in intricate dot patterns that reflect topography of her country, such as dry river beds, tracks and communities.

Delvine's country is just north of one of Australia's driest deserts, but there are many old soakages (waterholes) and river beds on her land. Traditional sources of food, such as bush yams, can be found abundantly if the season has brought plenty of rain.

Born Patricia Petyarre in 1982 at Utopia Homestead, later changing her name professionally to Delvine, she was the youngest of six children to Michael Kngwarreye and Glory Ngale, an iconic artist of the 1990's. She grew up at Boundary Bore in Utopia, the oustation located on her homelands, where she attended Aniltji school. Her father, brother of Emily Kame Kngwarrye, passed away when she was just a young girl. Her oldest sister - whose work inspires her the most - is Anna Price Petyarre, a renowned artist today who travels Australia most days of the year for her work.

Delvine's own work is sought after by gallerists wanting to add her fine dot skills and creative works to their exhibitions. At the age of 19, Delvine began painting for galleries and her work has been included in major exhibitions both in Australia and abroad. She has enjoyed travelling for her work in the past and would very much like to do so again in the future.