#157 My Country (Black/White) ARTIST: DELVINE PETYARRE 200cm x 72cm
Region: Utopia, Northern Territory
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Completed: 17 September 2025
Title: My Country
Biography:
Delvine Petyarre, a talented artist from the Utopia region of Central Australia, is the younger sister of renowned Utopia artist Anna Petyarre. Born in 1982, Delvine shares her sister's connection to the same Country and cultural heritage. Delvine’s ancestral ties are rooted in the land at Atneltyeye, also known as Boundary Bore, located within the Utopia Homelands.
Like many artists from this region, Delvine was mentored by her family, learning the traditional practices of painting and storytelling. She was guided by her mother, Glory Ngale, a respected artist in her own right. Delvine is also related to two of the most famous Aboriginal artists, Kudditji Kngwarreye and Emily Kame Kngwarreye, through her grandparents, further embedding her within a legacy of artistic excellence.
Delvine’s paintings are celebrated for their fine dot work, a distinctive feature of the Utopia painting style. Her work typically depicts the natural landscape of her Country—undulating sandhills, dry riverbeds, and the intricate formations of the land. Rendered predominantly in black and white, her artworks are graphic representations of the important sites and locations scattered across the Utopia region. These works not only showcase her technical skill but also hold deep cultural significance, as they represent the resources and stories of her people’s Country.
