Emily Pwerle
Atnwengerrp – b.c. 1922

Emily Pwerle’s country is Atnwengerrp and her language is Anmatyerre and Alyawarr.  She is approximately in her late eighties, born circa 1922 (no records exist) and has had little exposure to western culture.  Emily lives in Irrultja, a tiny settlement in Utopia of about 100 people.  Emily picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 2004.

Emily’s extended family are the artists, Barbara Weir, Aileen and Betty Mpetyane, and her older sister, the late Minnie Pwerle.  Emily was encouraged by all to paint along with her sisters Gayla and Molly Pwerle.

It wasn’t until late 2004 that Barbara Weir, Minnie Pwerle’s daughter, organised the first workshop for the sisters which was held at Irrultja station. This inaugural workshop heralded the start of an amazing painting experience.  Just as Minnie showed her now well known and appreciated freedom of expression, Emily, Molly and Galya followed suit.  Another workshop was arranged and so it continues.

Minnie took a close and supportive role in the development of her younger sisters. The sisters had an instant response to applying paint onto canvas, developing expressions of their dreamings that have been passed down from generation to generation. Emily paints “Awelye Atnwengerrp”, meaning women’s ceremony. “Awelye-Atnwengerrp” is depicted by a series of lines and symbols, often criss-crossed patterns that are layered across the canvas with colors that are explosive, colorful and energetic. The patterns represent the designs painted on women’s bodies during bush tucker ceremonies in Atnwengerrp.  Emily has developed her own unique, contemporary style and is proving to be a prolific, energetic and talented artist, akin to her late sister Minnie Pwerle.

Exhibitions:
2005 Permanent exhibition and collection, Dacou Australia, Rosewater, SA
2005 Group exhibition, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
2005 Group exhibition, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW
2006 Group Exhibition, The Pwerle Sisters,Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2006 Group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne, VIC
2006 Group Exihibition, The Pwerle Sisters, Artmob Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2007 Group exhibition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2007 Standing on Ceremony, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
2007 Utopia in New York, Robert Steele Gallery, New York. USA
2007 Annual Group Exhibition ‘Shalom’, University of NSW,
2007 ‘Desert Diversity’, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2007 Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA
2007 Treasures of the Spirit – Investing in Aboriginal Art, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
2007 Annual group exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2007 New Works from Utopia, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.