Jill Kelly Kemarre

Jill Kelly Kemarre was born in 1959. Her father’s country is Irrwelty located on Alyawarre lands, north of the Utopia region in Central Australia. Jilly is an Alyawarre women, she also speaks Eastern Arrente and English. Jill is also the cousin of emerging Aboriginal artist Abie Loy Kemarre.

Jill has been painting for about ten years, throughout that time she has worked for Delmore Downs Station and the art centre in Amperlatwaty (north of the Utopia region). In 2001 and 2002 her artworks were exhibited with DesART in Sydney and Melbourne as well as being involved in multiple exhibitions in 2007 and 2008 around Australia.

Jill’s depicts several Dreamings through her artwork including the Bush Yam, Bush Potatoe, Arnwekety (Conkerberry), Ntange (Seeds) and Awelye (Women’s ceremony and business). Jill also paints landscapes where she depicts her country through an intricate pattern of dots. Central Art had a good example of her paintings of the “Bush Yam” which depict the Aboriginal women of Alhakere country gathering the bush yam plant, which is a principle food source or bush tucker in the region. The women will also pay homage to the spirit of the yam through their Awelye ceremonies to ensure perpetual germination. Awelye ceremonies also include many song and dance cycles performed in sacred sites throughout the country.

The Bush Potato Dreaming was passed down to her by her father, through her artwork she depicts the potatoes extensive and complex root system as it spreads over the land. The potatoes grow as roots in the soil, as they grow the women will use digging sticks to locate them. The potatoes are often collected in coolamon’s (wooden dishes) and then cooked in hot coals under the ground.

Jill currently lives with her husband and family at Irrerlirri Outstation in Atitjere country, near Harts Range Community. Jill is a primary school teacher assistant at the local primary school as well as painting for the local Atitjere Community Arts Centre.