Lindsay Bird Mpetyane

About the Artist

Born: c. 1942              Language Group: Eastern Anmatyerre

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Lindsay is an important tribal leader in the Utopia District and is the headman at Mulga Bore Outstation. Married to Mavis Petyarre, they have three daughters, Rosie, Jessie and Karen Bird.

Lindsay was the only male to participate in the silk batik project at Utopia in the 1980's. He started painting in 1987 with other men and women of his camp.

Lindsay's paintings are both iconic and linear. He uses traditional symbols with background dotting of ochre yellow, red, black and white, or paints his Spear Straightening paintings with straight lines. He is also known for under painting the canvas usually in grey or ochre making his paintings quite distinct. His paintings are in major public and private collections nationally and internationally.  

Over the years, Lindsay has been an amazing source of information to Mbantua, enabling the traditions of his culture to be written down and passed on to art lovers throughout the world. Lindsay’s enthusiasm for teaching about culture has also been captured on DVD, by Mbantua Media Department, with Lindsay’s permission. The DVD, now available for purchase, was presented as a gift to HRH Prince of Wales on his Royal Australian Tour in 2005.

Collections:

Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
The Holmes a Court Collection, Perth
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
Museum of Victoria, Melbourne
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
The Kelton Foundation, Santa Monica, USA
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane