Australian Art Collective – Art for Everyone | Australian Aboriginal Art Gallery

Tanya Bird Mpetyane

Acrylic on Canvas

94 x 72 | 25212

$1290 AUD

Ahakeye (Bush Plum)

Tanya Bird Mpetyane is part of a renowned artistic family from Utopia in the Northern Territory. She is the daughter of Paddy Bird Mpetyane and the niece of Emily Kame Kngwarreye, continuing a lineage of strong women artists who have shaped contemporary Aboriginal art.

In this vibrant depiction of Ahakeye (Bush Plum), Tanya captures the intricate story of the small, vitamin-rich fruit that grows after rain and is gathered by Anmatyerre women. Her precise dotting and flowing patterns reflect both the structure of Country and the ceremonial importance of the Bush Plum Dreaming.

The work is filled with layered motifs—seed forms, tracks, and blossoms—interwoven in earthy tones of ochre, yellow, soft pinks, and whites. Tanya’s painting not only maps the physical environment but also celebrates the deep connection to the food sources, seasons, and stories that underpin her culture.