Kngwarray's first painting, Emu Woman, 1988 -1989 was created for the Landmark Group Collection, a Summer Project, Utopia Women's Paintings. The collection was acquired by the Janet Holmes à Court Collection and commissioned by the Central Australian Media Association, or CARM, who had taken over management of the Utopia Women's Batik Group. A summer project included 81 paintings by 80 female artists and one male artist.
The title of Kngwarray's painting, Emu Woman, invokes the artist's custodial right and responsibilities to Alhalker and reflects the special role of emu, or Ankerr, in Alhalker ceremony. Emu Woman features a repetition of branch-like forms. Central to the composition are the shallow curves, which were identified by Kngwarray's family as representing the correct butchering and cooking of the bird.
Emus have their own lore and preparation of emu for consumption is governed by the cultural code. Secreted in an array of ribs and neck icon are feet and tracks camouflaged by red, black, yellow and white dotting. The fat of the emu is signified by the yellow and half-cooked meat is red. The subsequent coloration related to the emu cycle begins with the darker shades and concludes with the lighter colors of old age.
