Kathleen Kngale

Born:  c 1933 at Utopia Homestead

Skin Name:  Kngale (also spelt Ngal, Kngal,Ngale, Ngala)

Language Group:  Anmatyerre

Region:  Camel Camp, Utopia, Northern Territory

Mediums:  Silk, Wooden Sculpture, Acrylic Painting

Dreaming:  Bush Plum

Husband:  Paddy Motorbike Pwerle

Brothers/ Sisters:  Polly Kngale, Angelina Pwerle, Molly Kngale, Leith Kngale

Children:  Elizabeth, Andy, Janie, Matthew – all Mpetyane

Collections:  Kerry Stokes Collection

Kathleen Kngale was born in approximately 1933 and is one of the senior boss women on Utopia.  Her language is Anmatyerre and she is married to the artist and sculptor, Paddy Motorbike.

She lives at the outstation of Camel Camp with her large family and sisters artist Polly Kngale, Maisie Kngale and artist Angeline Pwerle Kngale.  Like her sisters, Kathleen is a senior custodian for the Bush Plum - Arnwekety - in her country of Arlparra although all sisters have very different techniques for expressing their dreaming.

Kathleen started her career in batik before she was introduced to paint and canvas.  She is an extremely fine painter and has exhibited both nationally and internationally.  She was a finalist in the 2000 and 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards.

Exhibitions (selected):

·       2000 - Urapunja artists in Brisbane, Micheal Sourgnes

·       2000 - Out of the Desert, Desert Gallery Sydney

·       2001 - Utopia a Special Painting Place, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

·       2001 - Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, NT

·       2001 - Bush Plum Dreaming, Indigenart, Perth, WA

·       2002 - Two Sisters, Kathleen and Polly, Lorraine Diggings, Melbourne

·       2002 - Australian Modern, Fondazione Mudima, Milan, Italy

·       2004 - Desert Mob, Araluen Galleries, NT

·       2006 - Lorraine Diggins exhibition, London

·       2006 - Senior Women of Utopia, GalleryG, Brisbane

·       2007 - Patterns of Power, Art from the Eastern Desert, Simmer on the Bay Gallery, Sydney

·       2007 - Desert Song, Brush with Art Festival, Prairie Hotel, Parachilna, South Australia

·       2008 - Power of Place, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Inc.

·       2008 - Emily Kngwarreye and Her Legacy, Tokyo, Japan