Mountain Devil Dreaming, 2000 by Myrtle Petyarre 90x120cm

"Mountain Devil Dreaming," created in 2000 by Myrtle Petyarre, is an exquisite representation of the Arnkerrthe (Mountain Devil Lizard) Dreaming. This small lizard, resembling a miniature dinosaur, is covered in thorns and has the remarkable ability to camouflage itself by changing its skin color. Myrtle captures this adaptation through the intricate fine dots in her painting.

Born in 1932 in Utopia, Eastern Desert, Myrtle Petyarre was a pioneering artist, involved with the Utopia Women’s Batik group since the early 1970s. In 1988, she transitioned to acrylic painting with CAAMA's Summer Project. Myrtle is the mother of Gracie Morton Pwerle and the sister of Ada, Gloria, Nancy, Kathleen, Violet, and Jean Petyarre, all of whom are renowned artists.

Myrtle's artworks, including "Mountain Devil Dreaming," are featured in prestigious collections worldwide. These include the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, the Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection in Alice Springs, the Holmes à Court Collection in Perth, and the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum in St Lucia.