Aboriginal Art by Australian Aboriginal Artists, Quality Aboriginal Paintings for sale.  

Galya Pwerle’s country is Atnwengerrp and her language is Anmatyerre and Alyawarr.  She is approximately in her early 80 years (no records exist) and has had little exposure to western culture. In fact, Galya picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 2004. 

The youngest of the Pwerle Sisters, most of Galya’s family are all artists including her oldest sister, the late Minnie Pwerle, her niece Barbara Weir, plus her extended family Aileen and Betty Mpetyane.  All encouraged Galya and her older sisters Molly and Emily, to paint with their famed sister Minnie in 2004. 

Barbara Weir organised the first workshop of the sisters which was held at Ultja station. This inaugural workshop heralded the start of an amazing painting experience.  Just as Minnie showed the glorious freedom of expression, Molly, Emily and Galya followed suit.  Another workshop was arranged and so it continues.

 Minnie took a close and supportive role in the development of her younger sisters. The sisters had an instant response to applying paint onto canvas and developing expressions of their dreamings that have been passed down from generation to generation.  The passing on of these symbols and patterns ensures the survival of these peoples’ culture.

 Galya paints “Awelye Atnwengerrp” or ”Awelye Bush Tomato Atnwengerrp”.  Awelye means women’s ceremony and the bush tomato or bush melon is her dreaming.  “Awelye Atnwengerrp” is depicted by small curved brushstrokes while the Bush Tomato works consist of blunt paintbrush dabs that are layered across a body paint design background. The patterns represent the designs painted on women's bodies during bush tucker ceremonies, in Atnwengerrp.  Both styles use various colours to form abstract pieces of great beauty. During these ceremonies the women dance, and sing, paying homage to their ancestors, the land and the food it provides such as the Bush Tomato.  Galya is continually developing her own unique, contemporary style and is proving to be an exciting and progressive artist.  In 2005 and 2008 her work was nominated in the prestigious Telstra Awards held in Darwin.