Dolly Petyarr Mills
About
Skin: Petyarr (Pitjara)
Language Group: Anmattyerr
Region: Utopia, Northern Territory
Dreaming: Emu (Ankerr) Tucker, Yam Seed (Anaty)
Dolly's Story
Dolly Petyarr Mills was born in 1948 at Arlparra on Utopia. She participated in the Utopia A Picture Story a collection of 88 silk batiks (Holmes á Court Collection), which confirmed the artistic credibility of the Utopian Artists. She has painted for Eastern Desert Art since 2010. The major subject of her work is Kame, the seed of the pencil yam, and Emu Tucker which belongs to her country, Alhalkere. Dolly is sister to renowned artist Greeny Purvis Petyarre (now deceased), who was the owner of Alhalkere country.
She is a skilled colourist and her delicate multi-coloured renderings of her dreamings have an ethereal beauty.
Collections
Holmes á Court Collection, Perth
Exhibitions
1984 - The First National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1985 - The Second National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1989 - Utopia Women's Paintings, the First Works on Canvas, A Summer Project, 1988-89, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
1990 - 'Utopia - A Picture Story,' an exhibition of 88 works on silk from the Holmes a Court Collection by Utopia artists which toured Eire and Scotland
1992 - Central Australian Aboriginal Art and Craft Exhibition, Araluen Centre, Alice Springs
2003 - Sofitel Melbourne, World Vision Australia – Walkabout Art
2005 - Bett Hobart Gallery
2006 - Senior Women of Utopia, GalleryG, Brisbane
2007 - Patterns of Power, Art from the Eastern Desert, Simmer on the Bay, Sydney
2007 - Eastern Desert Dreaming, Artists from Utopia, GalleryG, Brisbane
2008 – Power of Place, Tandanya: National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Inc.
2008 - From the Desert to the Sea, Yurlunggur Art, Brisbane
2009 – Brush with Art, Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia
2010-The Utopia Story, Australasian Arts Projects, Singapore
2010- Western and Eastern Desert Art, Blaxlands Inn, Hunter Valley, NSW
2010- Aboriginal Artists UK Spring Show 11-13 June, London
2013 - Brush with Art Festival, Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia
2015 – Brush with Art, Parachilna, South Australia
2017 – Without Pier Art Gallery, Melbourne
2019 - Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia
Artworks
A collection of Dolly’s artworks below.