Evelyn Pultara

Evelyn Pultara Petyarre
Born: c. 1940
Language Group: Anmatyerre
Country: Alhalkere, Urapuntja, Northern Territory
Subjects: Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Kame (Seed), Awelye (Women’s Ceremony), Bush Tucker

Evelyn Pultara is a senior Anmatyerre artist and highly respected cultural custodian from the Urapuntja region in the Northern Territory. Born cica 1940 at Woodgreen Station, near Urapuntja, Evelyn comes from a distinguished lineage of artists and ceremonial leaders. Her aunt was the internationally acclaimed Emily Kame Kngwarreye, and she is the sister of renowned artists Greeny Purvis Petyarre. She is also half-sister to Jeannie, Rosemary, Dolly and Gloria Mills Petyarre. Together, they share the Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) Dreaming, a profound ancestral narrative tied to their country, Alhalkere.
Atnwelarre, the pencil yam, and Kame, the seed of this plant, are very important inherited stories that belong to Evelyn’s country. The Atnwelarre is a trailing herb or creeper, sometimes covering large areas, with bright green leaves, yellow flowers and long thin yams (swollen roots) which are an important food source and can be eaten raw or cooked in hot sand and ashes.
While Evelyn’s work has been shown in group exhibitions since the late 1990’s, her first solo exhibition was held at the World Vision Gallery in Sydney’s Leichardt in 2003. This was followed by solo shows in Milan, Melbourne and Sydney. In 2005 Evelyn won first prize in the General Painting section of the 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin.

Collections:
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, NT
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
The Holmes à Court Collection, Perth, WA