Abie Loy Kemarre

Born: c. 1972
Skin Name: Kemarre (Akemarr)
Region: Utopia
Community Outstation: Iylenty (Mosquito Bore)
Language: Alyawarre/Eastern Anmatyerrre

Subjects and Themes: (Dreaming) Bush Turkey, Bush Leaves, Sandhills, Women’s Body Painting

Abie Loy, the eldest of five children was born on Utopia Station. Her mother is Margaret Loy and her father, Ray Loy Pula.  As a young child Abie observed her skin group grandmother, Kathleen Petyarre and her equally celebrated aunt, Gloria Petyarre, working with batik.

At the age of 22 Abie began painting under the tutelage and influence of her grandmother, Kathleen.  Establishing a reputation for detail and fine dotting, Abie’s artistic talent and technical skill with batik and canvas was clearly evident, no more so than in her paintings, Bush Turkey Dreaming and Leaves. 

Around 2001/2002 Abie began experimenting with the elements of line, colour and form, resulting in a more linear, abstract and expressionistic style as seen in her Sandhills and Women’s Body Painting series.

Abie’s work in batik has been exhibited in Bali, her works on canvas exhibited extensively, nationally and internationally.  Her paintings are held in major collections all over the world.  Abie has twice been a finalist in the Telstra NATSIAA awards (2001, 2005).

Abie divides her time between Adelaide, Mosquito Bore and Lake Nash (Alpurrurulam) near the Queensland border. 


Source for the following information:
“Aboriginal Artists – Dictionary of Biographies by Janusz B. Krecymanski and Margo Birnberg”

Selected exhibitions:
Gallery Australis, Adelaide, SA;
2000 - Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne;
2002 - Glen Eira City Gallery, Melbourne.

Selected collections:

Kelton Foundation, Los Angeles, USA;
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commision, Adelaide

Awards:
1997, finalist in 14^th Telstra NATSIAA;
2001, finalist in 18^th Telstra NATSIAA

^© Boomerang Art 2010