Minnie Pwerle / Awelye Atnwengerrp

An Anmatyerre and Alyawarr artist from Atnwengerrp who started working on canvas late in life after decades of ceremonial body painting and batik. Her bold, colourful works celebrate Bush Melon, bush tucker and women’s ceremonial designs. Minnie began working on canvas in 1999, and was immediately noticed by galleries and collectors worldwide, after a lifetime of ceremonial body painting. Minnie was born prior to 1920 (c. 1910) on the banks of the Sandover River, 350 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs.

Minnie then began producing batik works in the 1980's completing artworks for the Robert Holmes a Court Collection. Her country was Atnwengerrp and her language was Anmatyerre and Alyawarr. Minnie was one of six children and went on to become the mother of seven children including International artist Barbara Weir.