Mary Morton Kemarre

Mary Morton Kemarre was a respected Alyawarre artist from Antarrengeny, a community within the Utopia region of Central Australia, located approximately 240 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs. Deeply connected to her Country and culture, Mary played a significant role in the preservation and promotion of Indigenous Australian art.

In the late 1970s, Mary became involved in the batik movement at Utopia, a project that combined Western craft practices with traditional Indigenous imagery. This initiative marked a pivotal moment in the Utopia art movement, allowing artists like Mary to express their cultural narratives through new mediums.

Transitioning to acrylic painting in the 1980s, Mary continued to depict the Dreaming stories and ceremonial designs of her ancestral land. Her artworks often featured themes such as Awelye (women's ceremony), Apeng (Kurrajong) Dreaming, and Merne Altwerr (Split-Jack), reflecting her deep knowledge of cultural practices and the natural environment.

Mary's contributions to art have been widely recognised, with her works held in major collections both nationally and internationally, including the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Beyond her artistic achievements, Mary was known for her bright and bubbly personality, and she lived in the Utopia region with her large extended family. Her legacy continues through her daughters—Lucky, Audrey, Sarah, and Ruby Morton—who are also well-known artists in the Aboriginal art industry.