Collection: Bernadine Johnson Kemara

Bernadine Kemara was born in Santa Teresa in the Ltyentye Apurte Community, East of Alice Springs, NT. Bernadine comes from a family of famous artists including Abie Loy and Petrick Kemarre from Utopia region in Northern Territory. Bernadine is married to Stephen Martin Petyarre, another artist in the gallery. Stephens sister is Anna Price Petyarre is one of the most sought-after artists from Central Australia. Bernadine learnt from a young age and has become a popular artist through her use of bold colours and precise painting style. These details produce amazing paintings. 

She often paints the stories of Bush Tucker and Medicine Leaves. Medicine Leaves represents the story of the use of bush seeds and leaves used for bush medicine. A practice used long before western medicine. Bush Medicine leaves are collected and used in a variety of different ways. They can be boiled in water and the liquid is used as a drinking medicine for stomach aches. It can also be crushed with Kangaroo fat to create paste for cuts and burns.