Bernadine Johnson Kemarre was born in 1974 in the remote community of Santa Teresa in Alice Springs N.T. (Ltyentye Apurte). Due to the remoteness of the area Bernadine had a very traditional upbringing before attending school learning many of the traditional stories and customs from her parents, uncles and aunts.
Bernadine comes from a big line of famous Aboriginal artists in her family including Abie Loy, Josie Petrick Kemarre and Anna Petyarre. She is married to Stephen Martin Petyarre who is also a highly sought after artist that has collections throughout many Australian galleries. Together they live with their children on Napery Station in the Northern Territory.
Bernadine’s main subject is the Bush Medicine Leaves, a design that depict the sacred leaves that a collected by the women from the Kurrajong tree and used along with Kangaroo fat to extract the plants medicinal qualities. Bernadine also dots the empty voids with white dots that represent the seeds of the plant that ensures the continuation of the Bush Medicine trees survival.