Jedda Purvis Kngwarreye

Jedda Purvis Kngwarreye is a Utopian artist; born in 1969 near Boundary Bore
Outstation, which is 240 km northeast of Alice Springs. She is the daughter of
renowned Utopian artist Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Kathleen Kemarre.
Jedda’s artistic career began in the late 1980s when she participated in the Utopia:
A Picture Story project, which introduced silk batik to Utopian women. Her
contribution—a batik depicting a bush scene of people gathered around a camp—
was part of a collection acquired by the Robert Holmes a Court Collection and toured internationally.

A central theme in Jedda’s work is the Dreaming story of “Kame” (the pencil yam), a
significant Dreamtime story handed down through her father's side of the family.
The yam is a vital food source and medicinal plant in the Utopia region, and women
celebrate it through ceremonies that ensure its perpetual germination. Jedda’s
paintings can also depict the root system of the yam, using vibrant colours and
intricate patterns to convey its cultural and spiritual significance.

As part of the Utopia art movement, Jedda continues the legacy of her family and
the broader community’s artistic traditions. Her work has gained recognition both
nationally and internationally, establishing her as an important voice in contemporary Indigenous Australian art.