Minnie Pwerle

Minnie Pwerle was born c.1920's in the region of Utopia Aboriginal Art Regions of Central Australia and passed away in March 2006.

On her death in 2006, Minnie left a substantial body of work which conveyed her deep connection to the land and the knowledge of the foods that it provides. Yet Minnie Pwerle did not produce acrylic works until she was in her eighties, ten years before her death.

Minnie Pwerle belonged to the Anmatyerre and Alyawarre tribe. Her life was traditional: one of six children and mother of seven and would have consisted of child rearing, food gathering and ceremony. Barbara Weir, her daughter is a recognised artist.

When the batik project was introduced to the women of Utopia in the 1980's, Minnie in her seventies participated.

When artist Lindsay Bird Mpetyane suggested the Utopian women paint on canvas using acrylic paint, Minnie, now in her eighties began to paint her traditional designs of the Awelye (Women's Ceremony) and the Bush Melon Dreaming which she had inherited.

Minnie Pwerle's canvas works were an immediate success as she innovated by combining these two elements. Her works are mesmerising and deeply moving, raw, bold and experimental and appealed to audiences around the world.

(Please note in respect for the Pwerle family, Central Art has removed all portrait photographs of this artist. This is in recognition of Aboriginal custom and cultural practices.)

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