Abie Loy Kemarre

DOB: February 1972
Born: UTOPIA
LANGUAGE EASTERN ANMATYERRE

About Artist:
Abie Loy is the eldest of five children, Abie was born on Utopia station. She is the daughter of Margaret Loy and Ray Loy Pula. Her aunt is the celebrated artist, Gloria Petyarre.

A very innovative mid-career artist, she began painting at the age of 19. She was mentored by her grandmother Kathleen Petyarre, who taught her the methodology of using details and tiny shimmering dotting to create complex optical effects.

Over the years, Abie further developed her skills as an artist to become an extraordinarily talented colourist, experimenting with elements of line, colour and form.

Abie is a custodian of the Bush Hen Dreaming. Her Bush Hen Dreaming Paintings represent the bush hen travelling in search of bush seeds scattered across the country. Other themes in Abie's paintings are the Bush Medicine Leaf Dreaming, Emu Dreaming, and Sandhills and Body Paint Designs including Awelye.

Her works are held in major collections all over the world. Batik work exhibited in Bali, works on canvas exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally.

Abie now spends her time between Mosquito Bore with her family, Lake Nash (Alpurrurulam) and Adelaide.


SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2004 Abie Loy Kemarre, Gadfly Gallery, Perth
2004 Abie Loy Kemarre, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney
2003 Abie Loy Kemarre, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne


GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2004 Arrnkerthe, Coo-ee Gallery, Sydney
2003 Abie Loy Kemarre - Recent Paintings, Fire-works Gallery, Brisbane
2002 Abie Loy & Violet Petyarre - Recent Paintings, Mary Place Gallery, Paddington NSW
2001 15th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Exhibition, Darwin
2000 The Collection, Gallerie Australis, Adelaide
2000 Utopia, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
1999 North by North East: Landscape & Ceremonial paintings from Utopia, Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne
1999 SALA Week, Gallerie Australis, Adelaide
1999 Joint Indonesian: Utopia Batik Workshop for the Third Pacific Arts
1999 Utopia: Recent Works, King Street Gallery, Perth
1998 Our Country Then and Now, Gallerie Australis, Adelaide
1998 Raiki Wara: Long Cloth from Aboriginal Australia and the Torres Strait, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
1998 Utopia Dreamings, Japingka Gallery, Perth
1997 Shliderijen uit Utopia, Songlines Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1997 Dreampower: the Art of Contemporary Aboriginal Australia, Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
1997 14th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Touring Art
1997 The Alice Prize Art Exhibition, Alice Springs, NT


AWARDS:

2001 finalist in 18th Telstra NATSIAA
1997 finalist in 14th Telstra NATSIAA


COLLECTIONS:

Art Gallery of South Australia
Festival of Arts Foundation Collection, Adelaide
The Adelaide University Art Collection, South Australia
The Levi-Kaplan Collection, Seattle, USA
The Kelton Foundation, Los Angeles, USA
The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commission Collection
The National Gallery of Victoria
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth
Private Collections in Australia and overseas

Auction Details:
Title: Bush Hen Dreaming, 2002
Details: Synthetic polymer paint on linen, 122 x 122 cm
Auction Price: $18,000
Auction House: Lawson~Menzies, Fine Aboriginal Art, Sydney, 31/05/2005, Lot No. 339

38 works listed from the 1970's onwards