Molly Pwerle and Emily Pwerle / Awelye Atnwengerrp (Body Paint) (1A)

A colourful gem of an artwork by sisters Molly and Emily Pwerle. Molly painted the first layer in 2005 and it wasn’t until 2011 that Emily painted the second layer to complete this collaboration! 

When Minnie Pwerle passed away in March 2006, she left a legacy of artworks memorable for their amazing colour and flowing imagery. Three of her sisters are carrying on the tradition of Minnie’s depiction of the art of Utopia, each with their own individual style but all boldly displaying the same inspiration and zest for art and their culture and love of their country.

In 2004 Molly, Emily and Galya Pwerle began painting together with their famous sister Minnie. Aged from 80-90 they, like Minnie, have lived a Traditional life in their desert homeland of Irrultja, a tiny settlement in Utopia of about 100 people, with very little real exposure to the rigours of western culture. Each lady produces artworks possessing an illusive magic hard to define, full of colour and movement and fluid execution. Collectors world-wide are still amazed, as they were with the works of the late Emily Kngwarreye and Minnie, that such modern images could possibly be forthcoming from artists who had never visited an art gallery nor had any knowledge of the European artists with whom they have all been compared.

All three sisters have participated in collaborative pieces, and whilst their patterns sit well together, with the designs representing the same Dreaming of “Awleye Atnwengerrp”, each has an undeniably unique and instantly recognisable style.

Along with their extended family of renowned artists, Barbara Weir, Aileen and Betty Mpetyane, these Elder ladies Molly, Emily and Gayla Pwerle are all producing highly collectable and desirable artworks.

Selected Exhibitions

2005

• Permanent exhibition and collection, Dacou Australia, Rosewater, SA.
• Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs, NT
• Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW

2006

• ‘The Pwerle Sisters,’ Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
• “The Pwerle Sisters’, Artmob Gallery, Hobart, TAS
• APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition, Rio Tinto Offices, Melbourne, VIC
• Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW
• Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD

2007

• Dacou Adelaide, Port Adelaide, SA
• ‘Standing on Ceremony’, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide, SA
• ‘Utopia in New York’ Robert Steele Gallery, New York. USA
• Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW
• University of NSW, Shalom Department, Kensington, NSW
• Desert Diversity’, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
• Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA
• ‘Treasures of the Spirit – Investing in Aboriginal Art’, Tandanya Cultural Institute,
• Adelaide, SA
• APS Bendi Lango Art Exhibition with Rio Tinto, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
• “New Works from Utopia”, Space Gallery, Pittsburgh, USA

2008

• “Utopia Collection” Japinka Gallery Perth, WA
• “Utopia Discoveries”, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
• Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW
• “Colours”, United Gallery, Sydney, NSW
• Group travelling exhibition to major cities in Australia, “EWB Elements”, presented by Dreamtime Art in conjunction with Dacou
• “Walking Together to Aid Aboriginal Health”, Shalom Gamarada Aboriginal Art Exhibition, University of NSW, Kensington, NSW
• “Women’s Stories”, Alison Kelly Gallery, Richmond, VIC

2009

• “Utopia, Colour’s of the Desert”, Gongpyeong Art Space in conjunction with Dacou, Australian Embassy in Korea & Crossbay Gallery, Seoul, Korea
• Dacou Broome, Broome, WA
• Gallery Savah, Sydney, NSW

Selected Collections

• Fred Torres Collection
• Corrigan Collection
• Mbantua Collection
• Hank Ebes Collection
• Artau Collection

Molly and Emily paint “Awelye Atnwengerrp”, meaning women’s ceremony / body paint in their country. “Awelye-Atnwengerrp” is depicted by a series of lines and symbols, often criss-crossed patterns that are layered across the canvas with colours that are explosive, colourful and energetic. The patterns represent the designs painted on women’s bodies during bush tucker ceremonies in Atnwengerrp. Integrated into the design is a circle motif with four lines drawn across it, representing diamonds that are found at a sacred site at Utopia.