Artist Profile

Emily Pwerle

Emily Pwerle was born in the Utopia Station region of the Northern Territory in 1922. She is one of eight children and younger sister of the acclaimed artist Minnie Pwerle.

Emily Pwerle started painting in 2004. At that time Minnie’s daughter, the well known artist Barbara Weir, organised a number of workshop where her mother, four of her aunts and sisters Molly, Galya, Emily and Minnie - worked collaboratively and individually to produce a series of paintings based on their ceremonies and their Dreaming stories.

Like her sisters, Emily’s main story is Awelye Atnwengerrp. Awelye refers to women's business and ceremonies associated with rituals. It also refers to the designs that women paint on each other's upper bodies as an important part of ceremonies. The sisters share the same Dreaming, but each one has developed her own unique, contemporary style and interpretation of her Dreaming.

Emily Pwerle’s paintings are eagerly sought by collectors and are held in galleries nationally and internationally.

Major Exhibitions:

• May 2007 'Utopia in New York' Robert Steele Gallery, New York, USA
• June 2007 Annual Group Exhibition, University of NSW
• July 2007 Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA
• Aug 2007 'Treasures of the Spirit - Investing in Aboriginal Art, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
• Sept 2007 Annual group exhibition, Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
• Oct 2007 "New Works from Utopia", Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

You are welcome to visit our art gallery to view Emily Pwerle and other aboriginal artists artwork on Linen/Canvas, Coolamon, Didgeridoo, Boomerang and Pottery at: Karlangu Aboriginal Art Centre, 47 York Street, Sydney, 2000, NSW, Australia