BETTY CLUB MBITJANA - Awelye

Known as: Betty Mpetyane / Betty Club Mbitjana
Born: c1950-2023, Utopia, Northern Territory
Language group: Anmatyerre

DREAMINGS

Awelye (Women’s Dreaming) - is the ceremonial body paint design belonging to Betty's mother's country, Atnwengerrp. These designs are traditionally finger painted onto the breasts and upper body by senior women ahead of ceremony, using red and white ochres, before being danced. Betty's Awelye paintings carry the bold linear stripes and curves of this design, a pattern passed down to her directly by          Minnie Pwerle.

Bush Plum (Anwekety) - is a Dreaming depicting the small native fruit gathered by Utopia women as a staple bush food. Betty's Bush Plum paintings are built from fine, layered dotwork, building up rich fields of colour that echo the fruit scattered across the ground after harvest.

Bush Melon - paintings depict another important bush food Dreaming, using larger, more defined dots than her Bush Plum work. The Bush Melon Dreaming was also central to her mother's practice and remains one of the paintings                            Betty is best known for.

LIFE AND PRACTICE

Betty Mbitjana was born on Utopia station in the Northern Territory, the daughter of the celebrated artist Minnie Pwerle and sister of renowned artist Barbara Weir. She was married to Paddy Club, son of Lena Pwerle. Betty grew up on the Utopia homelands, learning the ceremonies, songs and Dreamings passed down through her family and kinship group.

Betty's artistic life began in the 1970s, when she took part in the batik movement at Utopia, working on silk before later moving to acrylic painting on canvas.

Betty passed away in Alice Springs in 2023, surrounded by family. She leaves behind a significant body of work carrying forward one of Central Australia's most celebrated artistic legacies.

EXHIBITIONS

"Utopia – A Picture Story", a touring exhibition of 88 works on silk by Utopia artists, shown at the Araluen Centre in Alice Springs and toured internationally to Ireland and Scotland.

COLLECTIONS

Holmes à Court Collection, one of Australia's most significant collections of Aboriginal art.

Betty passed away in Alice Springs in 2023, surrounded by family. She leaves behind a significant body of work carrying forward one of Central Australia's most celebrated artistic legacies.

This painting was purchased directly from Betty. A gallery certificate of authenticity will be provided with the sale.