Selina Teece Pwerl was born in 1977 in her traditional country of Antarrengeny, which lies in Alyawarr country north of the Utopia region in Central Australia. 
Selina grew up surrounded by artists and developed her own artistic talents at a very young age. 

The theme for her paintings relate to the stories from her father’s country Antarrengeny.  Her painting style can vary from patterns of intricate dots when illustrating a landscape of her country to bold linear work when representing body paint design.  Selina is also inspired by other designs that she has seen in her country such as the Kurrajong seeds, Gum blossoms of the Blood wood tree and Akatyerre – Bush tomato, and is constantly experimenting with design and colour.

Selina’s artworks have been exhibited both nationally and internationally and received with great enthusiasm and interest. Through Selina’s hard work she has established herself as a very important emerging Indigenous artist.

If you'd like to see more artworks by this talented artist please visit our Gallery.

Ada Pula Beasley is an Alyawarr lady born at Ampilatwatja in 1959. She currently resides in the remote community of Epenara, 250 km South East of Tennant Creek in Central Australia. Ada first put paint to canvas in 2012 and is well known for using lines, dots and daubing to capture the beautiful, layered landscape of her Alyawarr country. The landscapes encompass all Dreaming's associated with her traditional country. Ada is interested in preserving her culture and teaching the younger artists about country. Keeping alive the knowledge of the elders, knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, bush medicines, locations of 'soakage's' (water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.

Ada is sister to Ampilatwatja Artist Michelle Holmes and daughter to Artist Jilly Holmes.

To view works by Ada Pula Beasley please visit the gallery.

History

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022 Alpeyt Mwerrangker, Coo-ee Fine Art Gallery, Sydney

2021 We Choose to Challenge, Coo-ee Fine Art Gallery, Sydney

2020 A Vision of Country: Australian Aboriginal Landscapes, Kate Owen Gallery, Sydney

2020 Painters from Ampilatwatja - Living in the Natural World, Japingka Gallery, Perth

2019 Bush Garden - Artists of Ampilatwatja, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA

2018 Artists of Ampilatwatja - Welcome to Paradise, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA

Michelle's love of country is expressed through her uplifting energetic artworks; Wonderful use of colour and intricate dotwork showcase the varied landscapes and vegetation in her Country. It is no surprise that Michelle won the People's Choice Award at the 2013 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA). Michelle was also part of the original Utopia Batik art movement during the 1980s, and her batik was acquired by the Robert Holmes Court Foundation.

Michelle takes immense pleasure in painting, and the level of detail in Michelle's art demonstrates a deep connection to country. Rather than depicting the Dreaming stories themselves, Michelle, like many of the artists from Ampilatwatja community have chosen to paint ‘Country’ which encompasses all the song lines, Dreaming stories and ancestors that inhabit their cultural landscape. Michelle’s main dreaming is 'strong bush medicine' and her works pay homage to the significance and use of traditional bush medicine.

In her spare time, Michelle loves to go hunting - the opportunity to be on Country and to see the land, plants, flowers and the trees provide great inspiration for her art.

Kaye Pula Beasley is an Alyawarr lady born at Ampilatwatja. Kaye currently resides in the remote community of Epenara, 250 km South East of Tennant Creek in Central Australia. Kaye is known for using lines, dots and daubing to capture the beautiful, layered landscape of her Alyawarr country. The landscapes encompass all Dreaming's associated with her traditional country. Kaye is interested in preserving her culture and teaching the younger artists about country. Keeping alive the knowledge of the elders, knowing when and where to go hunting and gathering, bush medicines, locations of 'soakage's' (water), travelling with family for ceremonies, and maintaining a connection with the land.

Kaye is sister to Ampilatwatja Artist Michelle Holmes and daughter to Artist Jilly Holmes.

To view works by Kaye Pula Beasley please visit the gallery.

Jill Kelly Kemarre was born in 1959, an Alyawarr woman; she also speaks Eastern Arrernte and English.  Her father’s county is Irrwelty located on Alyawarr land north of the Utopia region of Central Australia.  She currently lives with her husband and family at Irrerlirri Outstation in the Arltarlpilta region, 250kms north east of Alice Springs in the beautiful Harts Range.

Jill has been painting for about fifteen years.  Over these years she has worked for Delmore Downs Station and the art centre in Amperlatwaty – north of the Utopia Region.  Jill also painted at the community art centre in Atitjere. In 2001 and 2002 her work was exhibited with DesArt in Sydney and Melbourne. 

Her paintings represent elements associated with the stories from her traditional country.  They include; Arnwekety – Conkerberry, Lyaw Ntange – Seeds from the Munyeroo herb and Awely – woman’s ceremony.  Jill also paints landscapes applying intricate patterns of tiny dots.

To see works by this fabulous artist please visit our Gallery.

Natalea was born 14th November 1982 in Tennant Creek, Central Australia.  Her language is Alyawarr, however, she is also fluent in Eastern Arrernte and English.  Her mother’s country is near Neutral Junction Station south of Tennant Creek and her father’s country is Antarrengeny which lies in Alyawarr land north of the Utopia Region in Central Australia.

Natalea has been painting for many years under the tutelage of her mother in-law Jill Kelly Kemarre, who is also from the Alyawarr language group.  Jill is able to give direction to Natalie about her designs, which relate to her ancestral country and stories.  Natalie is constantly inspired by the designs she observes in the native flora and fauna found in her country and her work reflects this as she experiments with fine linear and dot designs, to wonderful splashes of colour.

To see works by this very talented artist please visit our Gallery.

Barbara Weir is a well-documented artist featured in numerous publications and in 2004 was chosen by the Australian Tourist Commission to appear in an advertisement titled ‘Barbara Weir’s Australia”.

Barbara’s dreaming stories include ‘My Mothers Country’, ‘Awelye’ and her famous ‘Grass Seed’ dreaming. Barbara’s paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout Australia and the world, including Japan, America and Europe.

Barbara is a versatile and passionate artist whose love for the country is reflected in each canvas she paints. She is highly skilled in the use of dot work shown in her depictions of ‘My Mothers Country’ and is ingenious in her use of lines and texture as shown in ‘Grass Seed’ dreaming’s.

Barbara has travelled extensively with her exhibitions throughout Australia, America, Japan and Europe and is now recognised as one of the art world's most collectable artists.

Barbara currently lives in Alice Springs with her daughter and Grandchildren.

Please visit our gallery to view artworks by Barbara Weir.

Caroline Petrick Ngwarreye is an Eastern Arrernte and Alyawarr women born c 1978.  Her traditional country is Irrerlirre approximately 250km north east of Alice Springs in the beautiful Harts Range

Caroline began her artistic journey in 2007 and developed her talents under the tutelage of her mother Jill Kelly Kemarre.  Her subtle paintings of intricate patterns of dot work and splashes of colour relate to her mother’s country and stories from Irrwelty.  These stories include arnwekety – conkerberry, ntange – seeds and awelye – women’s ceremony.

Her works have been included in exhibitions both nationally and internationally.

To see works by this fabulous artist please visit our Gallery.

Charmaine Torres Pwerle, born in 1975, is the daughter of well known artist Barbara Weir and granddaughter to the late great Minnie Pwerle. Charmaine resides in Alice Springs, where she lives with her four daughters and son.

Charmaine has always been surrounded by artists; including her mother Barbara Weir, the late great Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gloria Petyarre, her grandmother Minnie Pwerle, just to name a few.

Charmaine’s main inspirations come from her Grandmother’s country Atnwengerrp and awelye - Womens Ceremonial Body Paint Designs. 

Please visit our Gallery to see more works by this very talented artist.

Teresa Purla was born in 1963 in Darwin. Daughter of Barbara Weir and the granddaughter of the late Minnie Pwerle, both highly reputed Utopian artists. She relates to the stories from her mother’s country, Atnwengerrp, and is learningAnmatyerre and Alyawarr languages

Teresa spent much of her early life between Alice Springs, Darwin and the community of Papunya. However, her schooling took her as far as Adelaide and Perth.

Today she lives in the community of Atnwengerrp on the Utopia homelands north east of Alice Springs. Teresa currently serves on the Ampilatwitja Council, which has responsibilities for the surrounding communities.

Teresa began her painting career in 1990, under the tutelage of her mother Barbara Weir. Her paintings are highly detailed, often multi-layered and feature finely executed dot work. Teresa’s current paintings have an underlying influence from the series that her mother Barbara Weir created titled ’My Mother’s Country’. This series reflects the strong family ties to the Anmatyerre culture of the Utopia region.

Teresa Purla’s paintings have been exhibited in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, as well as in Paris and Copenhagen.

Please visit our gallery to view works by this talented artist or contact us for larger pieces or to commission a painting.

 Emily Pwerle is an Anmatyerre / Alyawarra woman born c.1920 on her fathers’ traditional country Atnwengerrp. Emily now lives in Irrultja, a tiny settlement of about 100 people situated in Utopia, a region of central Australia approx. 350 km north east of Alice Springs. She has had little exposure to western culture and only picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 2004. 

Many members of Emily’s extended family are artists: Barbara Weir, Aileen and Betty Mpetyane, and her older sister, the late Minnie Pwerle. Emily, along with her sisters Gayla and Molly Pwerle were encouraged by all to paint the traditional stories of their father country. However, it wasn’t until late 2004 that Barbara Weir, Minnie Pwerle’s daughter, organised the first workshop for the sisters which was held at Irrultja station. This inaugural workshop heralded the start of an amazing painting experience. Just as Minnie showed the glorious freedom of expression, Emily, Molly and Galya followed suit. Another workshop was quickly arranged and so it continues. 

 The sisters had an instant free flowing response to applying paint onto canvas, developing expressions of their Dreamings that have been passed down from generation to generation. Emily paints “Awelye Atnwengerrp”, meaning women’s ceremony in her country . Emily has developed her own contemporary style and is proving to be a prolific, energetic and talented artist, much like her late sister Minnie Pwerle. 

To view artworks recently acquired form Emily please visit our gallery or contact us for larger works.

Lizzie Pwerle is an Alyawarra woman from Atnwengerrp, a traditional country area in the Utopia region of Central Australia, approx. 300kms north east of Alice Springs. Lizzie began her artistic career using non-traditional materials in the late seventies and early eighties with the batik program that was initially introduced by the first art and craft coordinators Jenny Green and later Julia Murray. Lizzie was involved in the ‘Utopia: A Picture Story’ exhibition, a collection of 88 silk batiks that is now part of the Holmes ‘a Court Collection. From there, it was a natural progression from batik to applying paint to canvas.

In her paintings, Lizzie uses a series of intricate dots to portray the movement of awelye – women's ceremony. The linear work indicates the lines that the women make in the red sand when they dance their stories that belong to Atnwengerrp country.

Lizzie is a first cousin to the late, great Minnie Pwerle. She lives with her aunties Katie and Janie Morgan Petyarre and a very large extended family in Atnwengerrp.

Please visit our gallery to view work by Lizzie and other artists. Please don't hesitate to contact us for images of larger pieces in stock.

Belinda is an Anmatyerre woman born 1986 in Alice Springs. Her traditional country is Alhalkere, situated 250km’s North East of Alice Springs in the Utopia Region of Central Australia. She is one of five children to Sammy Petyarre and Margaret Golder. Belinda presently lives in Alice Springs with her husband and children.

Growing up surrounded by artists, Belinda and her sister the renowned artist Janet Golder, developed their artistic skills from a very early age as they watched and learned from renowned Australian artists such as their aunty the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, her uncle’s Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Kupptji Kngwarreye, her aunties, the well-known Petyarre sisters and her grandmother Polly Ngale, just to name a few.

The theme for Belinda’s paintings come from her grandmother’s story – Bush Plum, a woman’s story that belongs to Alhalkere country. Her application of thick layers of paint blended with a large bristle brush successfully produces a delicate soft floral motif representative of the flowers of the Bush Plum or Conkleberry. The Anmatyerre women of Utopia still celebrate awelye – women’s ceremony, for this very important bush food.

Belinda is an up and coming young artist whose beautiful paintings have already been represented in many group exhibitions and can be found in private collection both in Australia and overseas.

Janet is an Anmatyerre woman born November 1973.  Her traditional country is Alhalkere, situated 250km’s North East of Alice Springs in the Utopia Region of Central Australia. She is the eldest of five children to Sammy Petyarre and Margaret Golder.  Janet is married to Ronnie Bird Jungala and they have four children.

Surrounded by artists, Janet developed her artistic skills from a very early age as she watched and learned from renowned Australian artists such as her aunty the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, her uncle’s Greeny Purvis Petyarre and Kupptji and her aunties, the well-known Petyarre sisters, just to name a few.

The theme for Janet’s paintings relate to the main women’s stories from her father’s country.  Ntyerrm - the bean and seeds from the awenthe – dogwood tree, arnkerrthe - Mountain Devil Lizard and awelye– women’s ceremonial body paint design for these stories.

Her work has been represented in many group exhibitions and can be found in many private collections both in Australia and overseas.

If you'd like to see works by this artist please visit our gallery

Katie and Janie Petyarre Morgan are Alyawarra women from Ingkwelaye (Kurrajong Bore), a traditional country area in the Utopia region of Central Australia. Sisters Katie and Janie started their artistic career using non-traditional materials in the late seventies and early eighties with the batik program that was initially introduced by the first art and craft coordinators Jenny Green and later Julia Murray. Janie and Katie were involved in the ‘Utopia: A Picture Story’ exhibition featuring a collection of 88 silk batiks that are now part of the Holmes ‘a Court Collection. From there, there was a natural progression from batik to applying paint to canvas.

Using a series of intricate dots of varying sizes in circular and star patterns Katie and Janie express the cultural importance of the fruits and flowers of their traditional dreaming story ‘arkarley’ meaning Bush Orange or Wild Orange.

Please visit our gallery to view works by Janie and Katie, or contact us for larger paintings by these incredible artists.

Linda was born at Lake Mackay, near the border between W.A and N.T, in 1937 (dec 2021). Her father was a Pitjantjatjara man, Rintje Tjungurrayi, her mother was a Pintupi woman, Wanala Nangala. At birth, she was given the names Tjunkiya (from mother), Wukula (from grandmother) and Napaltjarri (her kinship name). Until she walked to Haasts Bluff Lutheran Mission in 1945, she grew up surrounded by the traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Pintupi people of the Gibson Desert.

On the cultural side, she witnessed the art of ‘sand painting’ whereby patterns etched in the desert sand was used to transmit spiritual messages from the ancient past. In 1972, when the Pintupi men started to paint on boards, they painted the same designs. When Linda started painting on canvas in 1987, she used these same designs, which were from Tingari Dreaming. She was tutored by her uncles, Uta Uta Tjangala and Nosepeg Tjuperula. Before he died in 1985, her step-father, Shorty Langkata Tjungurrayi had told Linda, “When I’m gone, you gotta keep it going”.

In 1988, Linda joined the literacy class at the Institute for Aboriginal Development in Alice Springs. All the ladies were artists, so it was school in the morning and painting in the afternoon. During the three years at I.A.D, Linda developed the style of painting for which she is known, from her own memories and experiences.

Please visit our gallery to view works by Linda or contact us for more information about Linda’s artwork and her amazing artistic journey.

Esther was born in 1982; she belongs to the Anmatyerre language group and associates with her grandmother’s country Atnangkere, in the Utopia region, approximately 230kms north east of Alice Springs in Central Australia.

Growing up surrounded by well established artists, Esther quickly developed her own artistic talents. She is the granddaughter of the well-known Australian artist, Gloria Petyarre. Esther’s life as a child and younger woman was spent sitting and learning from Gloria and her sisters (The Seven Petyarre Sister’s of the Utopia region) while they put paint to canvas, her great aunt the late, great, Emily Kngwarreye was also there along with many other artists from this region. Esther was taught by these amazing elders the songs, dance and body paint designs to all the stories that belong to Atnangkere country.

Please visit our gallery to view her amazing artworks

Colleen Wallace Nungarryi is an Eastern Arrente lady born in Alice Springs, 1974. Her fathers’ country is Annamurra near Harts Range, north east of Alice Springs, her mother’s country is Arrulka near Coniston, west of Alice Springs. Colleen is married to Colin Bird, from the Mulga Bore Outstation in the Utopia Region, and has 5 children; 4 boys and 1 girl. Colleen lives between Alice Springs and Mulga Bore, as Collins’ family still reside at the outstation.

Colleen began painting in 1990 under the tutelage of her aunties Gabriella and Kathleen Wallace. Her paintings relate to the Pencil Yam Story – Arlatyeye. She also paints awelye – women’s ceremony and Dreamtime Sisters who dance the stories surrounding the Pencil Yam Dreaming.

Maggie is an Anmatyerre woman born in 1973. Her traditional country is Ilkawerne, located approximately 200 kms north east of Alice Springs in Central Australia. Maggie is one of eleven children to Paddy Bird Jungula and Eileen Bird. Maggie grew up with her very large extended family at Mulga Bore Outstation (Akaye Soakage). She attended primary school at Alcoota and went onto Yirara College in Alice Springs for secondary school. Through Batchelor College Maggie has attained the qualifications to be an assistant teacher at the Mulga Bore School and is pursuing further qualifications. 

Surrounded by well known artists, Maggie developed her artistic skills as she watched and learned from renowned Australian artists such as her grandmother Ada Bird Petyarre and her Uncle Lindsay Bird Mpetyane. 

The themes for Maggie’s paintings relate to the stories from her father’s country. These include Ahakeye – Bush Plum, Alpar – Rattail Plant, and Awelye – Women’s ceremonial body paint designs for these stories. 

Her work has been represented in many group exhibitions and can be found in private collection both in Australia and overseas.

Please visit our gallery to view artworks by Maggie or contact us for larger pieces.

Alvira was born in 1978, she belongs to the Anmatyerrre/ EasternArrerntelanguagegroup and her traditional country is Ilkawernesituated 200 km north of Alice Springs in Central Australia. She is the 5th eldest child of eleven children to Paddy and Eileen Bird. Alvira grew up in her very strong close family group on Mulga Bore outstation. Now married with two children, Alvira and her family live at Engawala, a small community on Ilkawerne country approximately 40km from Mulga Bore.

Alvira grew up surrounded by many of our well-known Australian artists including her grandfather Lindsay Bird Mpetyaneand grandmother Ada Bird Petyarre. She has been putting brush to canvas since the mid 90’s when she was just a young girl, many times assisting her grandmother and aunties with their paintings. The main themes for her paintings include Alpar– rattail plant, Ahakey- Bush Plum and Tyankern- Mulga Seed.

Alvira’s paintings can be found in many private collections both in Australia and overseas. Her work has also been represented in many group exhibitions.

Please visit our gallery to view Alvira's paintings or contact us for larger works.

Rochelle is an Anmatyerre / Eastern Arrernte lady, born in 1999 she is the oldest daughter of Janet Golder Kngwarreye and Ronnie Bird. Rochelle is also the granddaughter of the well-known artist Ada Bird Petyarre and her grandfather is Lindsay Bird Mpetyane.

Growing up between Mulga Bore and Boundary Bore Outstation northeast of Alice Springs, Rochelle has always been surrounded by well-known established artists, so is it any wonder that she now puts paint to canvas producing her own beautiful works of art.

Rochelle’s paintings are depictions of women’s body paint designs and women and children hunting and gathering bush food. These activities are still very much enjoyed by Rochelle, her children and siblings today, on Alhalkere and Ilkawerne Country. The theme for her paintings relates to the stories from her father’s country Ilkawerne - Mulga Bore lies on this country. Her stories include Bush Plum, Mulga Seed, Alpar – herbaceous plant with medicinal properties, Ayara - native grass and its seed. Rochelle also paints the stories form her mother’s country Alhalkere and is inspired by her mother’s range of patterns and designs used to express the histories associated with her country.

Please visit gallery to view more paintings by this great artist

Marie is an Eastern Arrernte woman born in the community of Santa Teresa, September 1966.

Marie grew up with her very large extended family in Santa Teresa 120 km South East of Alice Springs, where she attended primary school until the early 1970s. Her family then moved to Alice Springs where Marie attended OLSH primary school before moving onto secondary school at Yirara College. Through Batchelor College Marie attained the qualifications to be an assistant teacher at the Mulga Bore School and is currently pursuing further qualifications in teaching.

Marie now lives between Alice Springs and Mulga Bore Outstation, 230km’s North East of Alice Springs, with her husband Kevin Bird (grandson to Ada Bird Petyarre) and her four children.

Marie developed her artistic skills as she watched and learned from her mother Theresa Ryder. The main theme in Marie’s paintings is associated with Awelye – Women’s Ceremony and Yerrampe – Honey Ant. Marie is also well known for her decorative paintings illustrating native flora and bush foods.

Her work has been represented in many group exhibitions and can be found in private collection both in Australia and overseas.

Please visit our gallery to view Marie’s beautiful artworks or contact us for more information and to see images of larger works.

Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) is an Aboriginal Community established as a Catholic Mission in 1953. Situated approximately 80 kms south east of Alice Springs, the artist’s of the community are renowned for their presentations of their culture and its stories.

The Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre has an important role in the community and Catholic Parish. As well as being a place of traditional healing, the Centre is the venue for many spiritual and artistic activities. The crosses from Santa Teresa are all originals, no one is the same. They make wonderful gifts and in turn help the community by giving meaningful occupation. Alpitye Art Studio is proud to support these artists and the Spirituality Centre by assisting in the marketing and sale of their crosses.

Please visit our gallery to purchase one of these crosses or contact us for further information.

Works from the private collection available for purchase.