Gayla Pwerle

Galya Pwerle is one of the four Pwerle sisters from Utopia.

Although her oldest sister, Minnie Pwerle had huge fame as an artist, Galya did not start painting until 2004. It was her sister's daughter, the renowned artist Barbara Weir who introduced the other three sisters to acrylic paint at Irrultja Station in the Utopia Region.

What occurred from that first workshop was a huge unleashing of artistic talent. The sisters continued to paint their Awelye Atnwengerrp Dreaming as they had done for decades on women's bodies during ceremonies in their country of Atnwengerrp but were now using colourful acrylic paint on canvas. The works produced were stunning and highly original works.

Although all the sisters painted the same Dreaming story, they developed their own unique style. Galya's work is characterised by a first layer of Awelye (body painting) which she then paints over with fine dotting. The effect is mysterious and moving.

Like her sisters, Galya's work has been widely exhibited throughout Australia and in international Galleries and is highly sought after.

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Exhibitions: 2008, Canterbury Art Exhibition, Contemporary Australian Art, Victoria 2007, 'Desert Diversity', Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria 2007, Annual Group Exhibition 'Shalon', Universitry of NSW, Shalom Department, Kensington, NSW 2007, 'Utopia in New York', Robert Steele Gallery, New York, USA 2007, 'Standing on Ceremony', Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA 2007, Permanent exhibition, Dacou Adelaide, Port Adelaide, SA 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 2006/2007, Group Exhibition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD 2006, Group Exhibition, APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne, Victoria 2006, Group Exhibition, "The Pwerle Sisters", Artmob Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania 2005, Permanent Exhibition and Collection, Dacou Australia, Rosewater, SA 2005, Group Exhibition, Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT 2005, Group Exhibition, Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW

Source: Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store

Artist: Gayla Pwerle

Skin Name: Pwerle

Language: Anmatyerre/Alyawarr

Region: Atnwengerrp/ Utopia

Vendor: Central Art

Dreaming: Awelye - Atnwengerrp

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