Mary Rumble Pitjara

Mary Rumble Pitjara was born around 1957 in Utopia, approximately 350km northeast of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

Mary’s auntie Gloria Petyarre and Gracie Morton Pwerle taught her to paint on canvas and over time Mary has developed her own style.

Mary’s depictions are of bush medicine bush tucker and Awelye (body paint design) referring to her country.

Mary’s dreamtime stories include Bush tucker, Awelye, Bush medicine dreaming and Kangaroo dreaming, focusing on the sacred land that is Utopia and the abundant resources it provides for the Utopian community.

Mary’s fine dot style is enhanced with her heavy use of detail, particularly in her representations of Bush Leaves. Her use of rich background colours overlayed with white dot work, creates visually appealing works of art.