Minnie Pwerle was born around 1910 in the region of Utopia, about 250 Kms north-east of Alice Springs. Her country is Atnwengerrp and her language is Anmatyerre and Alyawarr.

Minnie Pwerle made her first paintings at Utopia Community in September 1999 when she was in her late 80's.

The artist's main Dreamings are "Awelye-Atnwengerrp" (Women's Dreaming), "Bush Melon", and "Bush Melon Seed". These convey her love and respect for the land and the food it provides to the people.

"Awelye-Atnwengerrp" is depicted as a series of lines painted in different widths and colours. This pattern represents the lines painted on the top half of the women's bodies during ceremonies in their country of Atnwengerrp.

"Bush Melon" is depicted using a linear design of curves, circles, and breast designs in different colours. "Bush Melon Seed" is big and small patches of colour strewn across the canvas. Both these Dreamings tell the story of the sweet food that comes from a small bush and is only found in Atnwengerrp. Once very abundant and fruiting in the summer season, the bush melon is now very hard to find.

Selected Exhibitions:

2000 "Minnie Pwerle" Sydney
2000 "Minnie Pwerle" Melbourne
2001 "Out of Utopia" Canberra. with Barbara Weir
2001 Group exhibition San Anselmo, Marin County California, USA.
2001 Minnie Pwerle, Mary Pantjiti McLean- Tumaru Purlykumunu, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
2001 "Desert Colour - My Country", Raintree, Darwin
2001 Group exhibition, Santa Fey, New Mexico USA.
2001 "Women Artists of the Australian Desert", Auckland, New Zealand
2002 "United - Mother and Daughter", Alison Kelly Gallery, Victoria
2002 New York City, UTSA
2003 Minnie Pwerle & Mitjili Napurrula Japingka Gallery, Fremantle
2003 Art and Soul Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
2003 "Art from the Dreamtime", Portland Art Museum
2004 "Diva's of the Desert", Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
2005 "Utopia Revealed" Japingka Gallery, Fremantle

Collections:

National Gallery of Victoria
Art Gallery of Queensland
Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery of South Australia
Kelton Foundation
Kreglinger Collection
Thomas Vroom Collection