Born c.1938 at the old sheep camp, Dneiper Station, Central Australia, Louis Pwerle was an Eastern Anmatyerre speaker whose country lies on the central-western area of Utopia Station, with significant areas also on neighbouring Mt Skinner station. As the eldest of his brothers (who include Cowboy Louie Pwerle ), he was 'boss’ of the stories for this area and an important ceremonial leader of the Eastern Anmatyerre, held in high esteem by the community. Known as a good stockman, Louis worked over the years for several stations across the north-east. Though he had been painting only since the end of the 1980s, his distinctive personal style, with its bold designs and optical intensity, won Louis considerable recognition both in Australia and overseas. In 1990 he had a solo exhibition at Utopia Art, Sydney and was, with Emily Kngwarreye , CAAMA/Utopia-artist-in-residence at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (Reference: Batty, P. and Sheridan, N., Utopia Artist in Residence Project [Holmes à Court Foundation, Perth, 1990]). He had a family outstation at Mosquito Bore (Lyentye) in the north-west of Utopia Aboriginal Land, and was married to Angelina Kngwarreye and Sarah Kngwarreye.
- Writers:
- Johnson, Vivien
- Date written:
- 1994
- Last updated:
- 2011
