Body Paint Designs by Queenie Lion Kemarre (SOLD)

Age 88, Queenie is an elder from Atnwengerrp country and lives in a remote northern Utopia settlement.

Utopia has a large painting community and while Queenie dabbles with this, she is not prolific. Her works are few and far between. 

This painting represents women’s ceremonial body paint designs. Painted in warm red ochre and white, these are the same colours used to paint her body and fellow countrywomen during their Atnwengerrp ceremonies. 

These designs are painted onto the chest, breasts, arms and thighs of the women. Powders ground from ochre (clays), charcoal and ash are used as body paint.

Each corner in this painting has the typical arc linear pattern painted onto women's chests during ceremony.

Women perform awely ceremonies to demonstrate respect for their country and the total well-being and health of their community.

Artist: Queenie Lion

Skin name: Kemarre
Language group: Alyawarr
Country: Atnwengerrp and Irrwelty
Area: Utopia Region, Central Australia
Born: c. 1920
Read Queenie Lion's full bio »

• Medium: Synthetic polymer paint on canvas
• Size of painting: 30cm x 30cm 
• Size of canvas border: Approx 6 cm
• Background colour: Black