Josie Kunoth Petyarre
Josie Kunoth Petyarre is an Anmatyerre artist from the eastern desert region of Utopia. She lives in a remote outstation named Pungalindum with her husband, Dinni Kunoth Kemarre, their five sons, four daughters and four grandchildren. Josie began producing art in the early-1980s as part of the Utopia Women’s Batik Group. She was involved in the 1988 Picture Story batik project and the 1989 A Summer Project which marked the beginning of painting at Utopia.
In early 2005, Josie began making sculptures for art worker Marc Gooch. Along with a wild menagerie of birds, animals and human figures in ceremonial dress, Josie began painting new and unexpected objects to her repertoire. Josie started to incorporate some of the newer aspects of life at Utopia, learning to carve Toyotas, police cars, tables and chairs. Josie likes to experiment with her art and drawing, incorporating everything from the world around her. Drawing boundless inspiration from her surrounds, Josie carves with a flair and dynamism that sets her apart from other sculptors. Using wild colours and unexpected forms, she produces works that reflected her life and personality. According to Marc Gooch, each of Josie’s works is ‘like a self-portrait, revealing her spontaneity and individuality’.
The below artwork was featured in the Indigenous Law Bulletin January / February 2009 Volume 7 Issue 10.
