Stephen Petyarre was born 1974 in the Utopia region Northern Territory,. He is the son of the late Gloria Ngale, a highly respected artist and the nephew of the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, one of Australia’s best known artists. His Region is Alhalkere and his Language Group is Anmatyerre. Stephen’s sister is the well known artist Anna Price Petyarre who inspired him to take up painting as a young man. 

Stephen is married to artist Bernadine Johnston Kemarre; they divide their time between Utopia and Adelaide where their children attend school. 

Stephen is a traditional man who participates in Men’s Business and paints the Dreaming stories of his family and his culture that relate to Men's Business as in the subject of this painting.