Teresa Purla

Teresa McKeeman Purla was born on the 5th of August 1963 in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Teresa is the daughter of Barbara Weir, and the granddaughter of the late Minnie Pwerle, both highly regarded artists of Utopia art.

Teresa began painting in 1980 under the guidance of her mother Barbara. Her paintings are detailed, multi-layered and depict finely executed dot work. Teresa's paintings involve a series of works reflecting on her mothers and grandmothers country of Atnwengerrp at Utopia in Central Australia. Teresa lives now at Atnwengerrp, she says she feels close to her grandmothers spirit and enjoys being with her aunts Galya Pwerle, Molly Pwerle and Emily Pwerle, the late Minnie Pwerle's sisters.

Teresa paintings have been exhibited in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne as well as Paris and Copenhagen.

In 2008 the book Art of Utopia was published, illustrating side by side a wonderful series of works of Teresa's, her mother Barbara Weir, her grandmother Minnie Pwerle and aunts Galya, Molly and Emily Pwerle.

This artist biography and photograph is copyright protected. Please view our copyright policy if you would like to reproduce this material.