Sarah Morton Kngwarreye

Artist: Sarah Morton 
Skin name: Kngwarreye (also spelled Kngwarrey, Ngwarai)
Language group: Alyawarr
Country: Ngkwarlerlanem and Arnkawenyerr
Region: Utopia, Central Australia
Born: 1961

Sarah is the third daughter of the late Mary Morton Kemarre and second wife to Louie Pwerle  Along with her mother and sisters, Lucky, Audrey, Ruby, Janice and Hazel, Sarah took part in batik workshops in the 1980’s at Utopia.  Her work in this medium is featured in the ‘Robert Holmes á Court’ exhibition and collection which toured extensively within Australia and abroad. 

Sarah began painting on canvas in the summer of 1988-9 as part of the CAAMA project called ‘The First works on Canvas, A Summer Project’.  She has continued in this medium and developed a fine style to depict elements of her Dreaming stories.

Sarah resides in Arnkawenyerr with her sisters and extended family.  Painting is a part of life at this community.  She attends Bachelor College periodically which has seen her travel across the Northern Territory.

Sarah paints a variety of different stories which she says comes from two different Countries of which she belongs to; Ngkwarlerlanem and Arkawenyerr.  She also paints the ceremonial body paint designs that come from these countries and also her mother’s country, Antarrengeny.