Medicine Leaves

Esther Haywood Petyarre is an Indigenous Australian artist from the Utopia region of the Northern Territory, an area internationally recognised for its influential Aboriginal art movement. Her paintings are inspired by the landscapes, Dreaming stories, and cultural traditions of her Anmatyerre heritage, often depicting bush medicine plants, watercourses, ceremonial markings, and the natural rhythms of country. Known for her expressive use of colour, layered brushwork, and intricate dot patterns, Petyarre’s work blends traditional storytelling with a contemporary artistic style. Through her art, she continues the cultural practices and knowledge passed down through generations, celebrating the spiritual connection between people, land, and ancestry that is central to Indigenous Australian culture.