Minnie Pwerle

Minnie Pwerle was born in the Utopia region about 1922. Her country is Atnwengerrp and her language is Anmatyerre and Alyawarr. She passed away on March 18, 2006.

Her artwork shows body paint designs entitled Awelye in her language and the location is Atnwengerrp, an outstation in the Utopia region. These designs are associated with imagery for ceremony relating to Bush Melon and Bush Melon Seed. Minnie Pwerle’s affection for painting is shown through the use of, at times, brilliant colours – vibrant reds, electric blues and shocking pinks, but sometimes subtle tones that are quite haunting.

There is no doubt that her confident artwork, painted prolifically between late 1999 and 2006, was the catalyst for the inclusion of Australian Aboriginal art in the contemporary home design.