Emily Pwerle
DOB: 1922
BORN: Utopia, NT
LANGUAGE GROUP:Anmatyerre/Alyawerre
COMMUNITY: Utopia, NT
Emily Pwerle
Emily Pwerle is an Aboriginal artist born around 1920 in Atnwengerrp, which is her father’s traditional country. She lives in Irrultja, a small community in Utopia about 350 km northeast of Alice Springs. She began painting in 2004 and had very little exposure to Western culture.
Many of Emily’s family members are artists as well, like Barbara Weir, Aileen, Betty Mpetyane, and her late sister, Minnie Pwerle. Barbara organized the first painting workshop for Emily and her sisters Gayla and Molly in late 2004 at Irrultja station, which kick-started their painting journey.
Their artwork, called “Awelye Atnwengerrp,” depicts women’s ceremonies in their country. This style shows patterns and symbols, representing designs painted on women during bush tucker ceremonies in Atnwengerrp. Emily’s art is vibrant and full of colour, showing her contemporary style, much like her talented sister Minnie Pwerle.
- Pat Corrigan Collection, Sydney
- Hank Ebes Collection, Melbourne
- Artau Collection
- Mbantua Gallery Permanent Collection, Alice Springs
- Dacou Australia, Rosewater, SA
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010 Emily Pwerle, Gallery Savah, Sydney
2009 Body Markings, DACOU Gallery, Melbourne
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Colours of the Desert, Pwerle Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
2022 Connection, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
2022 Into the Sunset, Pwerle Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
2022 Colour Pop, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney
2021 We Choose to Challenge, Coo-ee Fine Art Gallery, Sydney
2021 Body Line, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2020 Blue July, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2019 Landscape Colours, Japingka Gallery, Perth
2019 Spring Collection: Exhibition to celebrate our beautiful Spring Collection, Brenda Colahan Fine Art, Sydney
2018 20/20 Vision: 20 Years 20 Women, Brenda Colahan Fine Art, Sydney
2018 Utopia Exhibition of Four Generations, Pwerle Gallery in conjunction with One Rundle Trading Co., Adelaide
2010 The Pwerle Sisters, DACOU Australia, Melbourne
2010 Tradition to Modernity, Central Art (in conjunction with Tasmania Craft Fair), Tasmania
2009 Group Exhibition, Gallery Savah, Sydney
2009 Body Markings, DACOU Gallery, Broome, WA
2009 Utopia, Colors of the Desert, Gongpyeong Art Space in conjunction with DACOU, Australian Embassy in Korea & Crossbay Gallery, Seoul
2008 Utopia Collection, Japinka Gallery, Perth
2008 Utopia Discoveries, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2008 Group travelling exhibition to major cities in Australia, EWB Elements, presented by Dreamtime Art in conjunction with DACOU Galleries
2008 Walking Together to Aid Aboriginal Health, Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, University of NSW, Sydney
2008 Women’s Stories, Alison Kelly Gallery, Melbourne
2007 Utopia in New York, Robert Steele Gallery, New York
2007 Treasures of the Spirit – Investing in Aboriginal Art, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide
2007 Standing on Ceremony, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide
2007 Permanent exhibition, Dacou Adelaide, Port Adelaide
2007 New Works from Utopia, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2007 Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, DC
2007 Desert Diversity, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2007 APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2007 Annual Group Exhibition ‘Shalom’, University of NSW, Shalom Department, Sydney
2006/07 Group exhibition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2006 The Pwerle Sisters, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
2006 The Pwerle Sisters, ArtMob, Hobart
2006 APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne
2005 Permanent exhibition and collection, Dacou Australia, Rosewater, SA
2005 Group exhibition, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs
2005 Group exhibition, Gallery Savah, Sydney