Charmaine Pwerle Biography and CV
Charmaine Pwerle is an exciting young, emerging artist whose life has been steeped in the artistic talents and traditions of her family. Born on Utopia in 1975, Charmaine is the daughter of Barbara Weir, a highly successful and experienced painter, who has been a great inspiration and source of encouragement for Charmaine. The famous Minnie Pwerle, Charmaine's grandmother, was an early role model and source of knowledge about the Dreaming stories that inspired and stimulated her art. She has also been witness to the success of many other Utopia artists including Gloria Petyarre, Kathleen Petyarre and Kathleen, Polly and Angeline Ngale. As a teenager in the early and mid-nineties, Charmaine would return from school in Adelaide to hear about Emily Kame Kngwarreye, who became a household name and arguably Australia's most successful Aboriginal artist.
After having spent her early years at Utopia, in Alice Springs at St. Phillips College then Adelaide to complete her education, Charmaine has settled in Alice Springs with her daughters. At seventeen, Charmaine moved to Utopia with her mother and worked in administration for the Urapuntja Council. These were exciting times, Barbara brought home her first stretched primed linen from Delmore (still in the Delmore Collection) and steadily developed her career. Minnie Pwerle and her sisters, Molly, Emily and Gayla were also painting at the time.
With this background it is not surprising that Charmaine is now emerging as one of the most dynamic and talented artists to come from Utopia. Charmaine is enthusiastic and determined, has a great work ethic and the confidence and experience to develop her own style of painting. She promises to have a big future.
View Charmaine Pwerle's paintings
COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Delmore Gallery: Utopia Women, Merricks Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia2017 Sacred Marks, JGM Gallery, London, U.K.
2017 Utopia: the artists of Delmore Downs, Yaama Ganu Gallery, Moree
2016 Winter Salon, Whistlewood, Shoreham, VIC
2015 Sixteen Artists, Japingka Gallery, Perth, WA
2015 Alpitye Art Studio, Alice Springs, NT
2014 Far North-Great South, Le Mans Contemporary Arts (MAC), Collegiate Church of St Pierre La Cour, Paris, France
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 Awelye – Charmaine Pwerle, ARTMOB, Hobart, TAS