Aboriginal Art Gallery | Paintings by aboriginal artists | Barbara Weir, Gloria Petyarre, Minnie and Galya Pwerle, Susan and Annie Pitjara Hunter

Susan Pitjara (also spelt Petyarre) Hunter was born circa 1966 into the Alyawarr tribe in Utopia. Susan is the younger sister of artists Annie Pitjara Hunter, Jessie Pitjara Hunter and Sandy Pitjara Hunter.  She resides at the outstation of Irrultja on Utopia in the Eastern Desert and lives a traditional life spending all her time in the bush with her husband Clements.  

Susan Pitjara Hunter (also known as Susie) is one of the most gifted young emerging artists of this region. For such a young artist, Susan has always had a deep sense of belonging to her country and has remained steadfastly 'outbush'.  Her meticulous execution of Women's Business is rendered with extreme care and respect for her subject matter. The end result is a myriad of intricate patterns symbolising her Dreaming.  

Susie Hunter's work encompass all aspects of her Dreaming - Awelye & Women's Business from ceremonies, sacred sites, body paint to Bush Tucker.  In her paintings Susie depicts women's ceremonial sites or dreaming places where women are gathered. The women’s bodies are decorated with natural ochres of red, white and yellow. They are painted as if seen from an aerial perspective.  

The women sit and chant the songlines that have been passed down to them from their ancestors. It is at these ceremonial meetings that the women pass on their tribal Dreamings to the younger ones. These Dreamings are like the rules of life.

“We paint our bodies here and here and we sing and dance”