Ada Bird Petyarre
Language Group: Anmatyerre
Born: circa 1930-2009
She was born at Atnangkere near Utopia. Ada paints like her personality. Vibrant, outgoing and blatantly honest! She is a lover of bright colours, in particular blue, but also paints in more traditional and subdued colours. Fine detailed works are not traditional works of her group nor are they any part of Ada's works. Her works express her lifestyle. She is a traditional senior Aboriginal woman who involves and expresses herself to the fullest extent both on canvas and in her ancient culture. She is a wonderful mother to June, Hilda, Colin, Steven, Paddy and Ronnie and a caring and active grandmother to so many! She began applying acrylic on canvas around 1988 after having been involved in Utopia batik since the early 1970's. Her works are collected throughout the world including Holmes a Court, National gallery of Australia and Wim Wenders. Her Dreamings include Mountain Devil Lizard, Bean, Emu, Yam and Grass Seeds.

Painting description
This painting represents Awelye, which is the ceremonial body paint style associated with the Mountain Devil Dreaming from Atnangkere country. The designs are painted on to the chests, breast, shoulders and upper arms with ground ochres and applied to the body with a stich called a Typale.