Margaret Loy Pula

Margaret Loy Pula hails (sometimes known as Maggie Loy). from a distinguished artistic family in Utopia, Central Australia. Born on Amaroo Station in 1950, she is the daughter of renowned artist Kathleen Petyarre and the mother of acclaimed artist Abie Loy Kemarre. Margaret's aunts include the famous Petyarre sisters—Ada Bird, Nancy Kunoth, Myrtle, Violet, and Gloria—all of whom are established artists with works in collections both in Australia and internationally.

Margaret has been painting since she was young, learning from her mother and her cousin, Gloria Petyarre. Her primary story is "Anatye," or Bush Potato Dreaming, which she portrays using a series of finely detailed dots. This dreaming reflects the plant's importance as a vital food source and its deep spiritual significance to the Anmatyerre people.

Her work features vibrant colours and intricate designs that depict her father's dreaming, including country, bush food, and ceremonial patterns. Margaret's unique style has earned her significant recognition in the art world.

In 2011, she became the first female artist to win both the Sunshine Coast Art Prize and the Paddington Art Prize. The following year, she was a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize. In 2012, she also won the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, making her the first Indigenous artist to receive this award. Her other accolades include the Muswellbrook Art Prize (2013), Redland Art Prize (2014), and Grace Cossington Smith Art Prize (2014). She was awarded the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize in 2017 and the Tattersall's Art Prize in Brisbane the same year.

Margaret has held major exhibitions in New York and showcased her work at top art fairs in Singapore, Miami, New York, and Mexico City. Her art continues to draw attention from collectors and galleries worldwide, cementing her legacy as a significant figure in contemporary Indigenous art.