Colleen Wallace

Colleen Wallace is an Eastern Arrernte artist who was grew up between Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) and Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in the Northern Territory. Colleen began painting in the 1990s, encouraged by her stepmother, esteemed artist Kathleen Wallace. Colleen is married to Colin Bird, who is son to the famous Utopia artist Ada Bird Petyarre, and they have five children together.

Colleen’s most popular artworks are drawn from a style that was passed down to her by her stepmother Kathleen, depicting ‘Dreamtime Sisters', called ‘Irrernte-arenye’ by Eastern Arrernte people. The spirits watch over important areas of land, such as sacred or ceremonial sites. She uses the traditional dotting technique of the Central & Western desert, combined with fine linework, to depict the Irrernte-arenye floating above the sacred sites, protecting them and the people who visit and care for them. These paintings are highly sought after from Colleen.

Prior to being passed down the Dreamtime Sisters story by Kathleen, Colleen previously painted stories from her father's country near Gem Tree, north-east of Alice Springs. Colleen’s grandfather and recognised senior artist, Kenny Tilmouth Penangke, gave her permission to paint this Dreaming. This Yam story also links to Ada Bird Petyarre and her country around Mulga Bore.

Colleen is celebrated for her precise dot design and vibrant command of colour, and her work has been featured in many exhibitions within Australia and the US.