Greeny Purvis Petyarre
Born:
1930
Deceased:
2010
Language Group:
Anmatyerre
Country:
Alhalkere, Utopia Region, North East of Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Medium:
Acrylic on Canvas and Linen
Subjects:
Atnwelarre (Pencil Yam) and Kame (Seed), Emu and Kangaroo Dreaming, Men’s Story
ARTIST PROFILE
Greeny Purvis Petyarre, apart from being a very high ranking tribal elder in Utopia, was also the nephew of the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. His father, Alhalkere Jack, Lindsay Bird’s mother and Emily are all blood brothers and sisters. Greeny was married to Kathleen Kemarre and had four daughters.
Greeny’s paintings, usually Yam Seed Dreamings, are highly sought after by collectors and galleries throughout the world. Very rarely did he digress from the basic colours, and he painted with the use of lines, medium size dots and very small dots. On occasion he had been known to use very large, splash type dot work during a period of collaborations with Emily Kame Kngwarreye (Greeny being the eldest nephew).
The colours usually indicate different stages, seasons or time e.g. Yam Seed Dreaming – before germinating, after germinating, when bearing fruit and sometimes after it has borne fruit. His paintings appeared to reflect his unpretentious personality – quietly unassuming but with that feeling of endurance and respect.
Mar 11, 2025
Raffan Kelaher & Thomas
Passed
Oct 01, 2024
GREENY PURVIS PETYARRE (Australian 1930 -), untitled, 122 x 91 cm. Artist name verso.
Raffan Kelaher & Thomas
Sold: AUD300
Mar 05, 2024
Greeny Purvis Petyarre – Yam Dreaming, 2000
Cooee Art
Sold: AUD2,200
Nov 08, 2023
Greeny Purvis Petyarre – Yam Dreaming, 2001
Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art)
Sold: AUD3,200
Apr 16, 2023
GREENY PURVIS PETYARRE (1930-2010), Untitled 1994
Gibson’s
Sold: AUD1,200
Apr 16, 2023
GREENY PURVIS PETYARRE (1930-2010), Of My Country Aneltyeye 1999
Gibson’s
Sold: AUD2,400
Oct 24, 2021
GREENY PURVIS PETYARRE “Yam Germanation”
Ozbid Auctions
Sold: AUD600
Aug 22, 2019
Greeny Purvis Petyarre (c1930 – ) – Pencil Yam Dreaming 120 x 45cm
Lawsons
Passed
Jul 18, 2019
Greeny Purvis Petyarre (c1930 – ) – Pencil Yam Dreaming 120 x 45cm
Lawsons
Passed
Jul 18, 2019
Greeny Purvis Petyarre (c1930 – ) – Pencil Yam Dreaming 120 x 270cm (stretched and ready to hang)
Lawsons
Sold: AUD5,000
Feb 24, 2019
GREENY PURVIS PETYARRE – YAM DREAMING – Acrylic on linen
GFL Fine Art
Sold: AUD750
December 8, 2020
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