Lindsay Bird Mpetyane 1935-2024

Wild Plum Ceremony 'Mulga Bore 1998'  is a museum-quality work

Lindsay Bird Mpetyane was a renowned Australian Aboriginal artist and important elder of his country, Ilkawerne, in the Utopia region.

Lindsay was the only male artist involved in the Utopia batik movement during the 1980's and he started painting soon after with many of the women, including Gloria Petyarre and Ada Bird Petyarre, and a handful of men including Louie Pwerle. 

Born circa 1935, Lindsay Bird Mpetyane passed away in May 2024, survived by his wife Mavis Petyarre, and three daughters; Rosie, Jessie and Karen Bird Ngale.

Lindsay acknowledged that painting on canvas is his sincere desire to continue his legacy of teachings and encourage the growth and interest of the Ilkawerne generations.

Lindsay Bird Mpetyane Biography is on page 146 in Aboriginal Artists dictionary of biographies.

His paintings are symbolic and connected to his Dreamtime. He uses the traditional symbols to tell his stories on canvas, including concentric circles which represent the significant place of the story (for example the Bush Plum tree) or a sacred part of the men’s story. Lindsay also uses his four traditional colours; yellow ochre, red ochre, black and white, with each having its own specific meaning. 

Lindsay Bird was born at Mulga Bore near Utopia, Northern Territory. He is a respected elder and tribal leader of the Anmatyerre tribe and worked as a shepherd and stockman for many years.

In the late 70’s Lindsay Bird was one of few senior men at Utopia, to paint on silk batik with the Utopia Women's Batik Group, 88 members at a time. The Batik Group became an essential source of inspiration for the artists, and the tremendous success both in Australia and overseas. The Batik Group achievement led to another successful project introduced in 1988, in which Lindsay Bird was instrumental introducing acrylic paint to the artists to paint on canvas. 

Lindsay is the nephew of the great Emily Kame Kngwarreye. After Emily Kame Kngwarreye he was one of the first Aboriginal artists to hold a major solo exhibition.

Lindsay, and women, took to the new medium with ease and enthusiasm, finding it more exciting to work with than the silk and batik techniques they had hitherto used.

Lindsay was the only male to participate in the important Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) community projects which resulted in the works being exhibited at the S.H.Erwin Gallery in Sydney and several other notable galleries across Australia.

It was the beginning of the Utopian Art Movement, and it was impressive enough to gain international attention with 'Utopia – A Picture Story, 88 silk batiks from the Holmes a Court Collection', which toured throughout Australia and then onto Scotland and Ireland in 1990. 

As a senior law man, Lindsay can depict many themes of men’s law in his paintings. His Dreamings include ‘Çharpa’ (Honey Ant), Bush Plum, Men’s Ceremony, Yam Dreaming and Snake Dreaming. Lindsay's artworks are often large and imposing with a distinctive boldness of colour selection and harmonious design.
Lindsay lives a traditional lifestyle with his wife Mavis and their three daughters, maintaining strong links with their land values and ceremony. 

Lindsay Bird paintings are close to his spirit. both iconic and linear, he uses the traditional symbols to tell his Dreaming stories on canvas.

Lindsay Bird symbols include concentric circles which represent the significant 'place' of the story (for example the Bush Plum tree) or a sacred part of the men's story.

Lindsay also uses his four traditional colours, consisting of the two ochres (yellow and red), black and white, each with specific meaning.

Lindsay work is represented in collections around the World. Lindsay Bird was instrumental in making acrylic paintings important at Utopia.

Lindsay work is characterised by precision and imposing bold colour combination. Lindsay Bird high-quality paintings are keenly sought by collectors throughout the world.

Lindsay is represented in many private and Museum collections both in Australia, overseas and in Books such as 'A Picture Story-Robert Holmes a Court collection' and 'The Art of Utopia' by Michael Boulter.

Lindsay’s dreamings include ‘Charpa’ (honey ant), ‘Bush Plum”, ‘Men Ceremony”, “Yam Dreaming” and ‘Snake Dreaming”.

One of the themes to Lindsay’s painting is his reference to sacred ceremonial sites where “men business” is conducted. Lindsay often depicts these sites in a circular style surrounded by hunting weapons which are the spirits keeping the area safe.

These paintings design is very strong in the meaning is reflecting Lindsay’s respect for the ceremonies conducted at these sites.

Lindsay produced many painting including 'Snake Dreaming' wich is is still held in the Mbantua Museum collection.

Lindsay paintings are keenly sought by collectors and galleries throughout the world. Lindsay dreamings include Prickle, Mulga Tree, Bloodwood trees, Bush Plum, Honey Ant and Woomera.

Lindsay lives and his family group with his wife Mavis, and three daughters, Kavean, Jessica and Rosy Ngale is very much traditional, maintaining strong links with their land values and ceremony.

Lindsay is recognized in his community, as one of the leaders in the Art movement from Utopia. Lindsay is an important Aboriginal leader in the Utopia district. Lindsay Bird Mpetyane is the cousin to Greeny Petyarre and brother in law to Ada Bird.

One of few male Utopia artists, Lindsay is an important leader. Married to Mavis Petyarre, they have three daughters, Rosie, Jessie and Karen Bird Ngale.