Charmaine Pwerle

Charmaine Pwerle was born in Alice Springs in 1975, and has spent her life surrounded by some of the best known names in Aboriginal art. Charmaine Pwerle is the daughter of Barbara Weir and granddaughter of the famous Minnie Pwerle.

Through her early life Charmaine was in contact with many other well known Utopia artists including Emily Kngwarreye and Gloria Petyarre. This early experience built into her make-up the strong desire to paint and to represent traditional stories that were part of her heritage; particularly the women’s ceremonial designs and stories from her grandmother's country.

Charmaine Pwerle attended primary school at Utopia before moving to Adelaide then back to Alice Springs for the end of her schooling. Charmaine Pwerle returned to Utopia for a few years before going back to Adelaide for further study. In 1992 Charmaine returned to Utopia and worked for the Urapuntja Council. During this time Charmaine lived at Soakage Bore, an outstation on Utopia Station, with her mother Barbara Weir and grandparents Minnie Pwerle and Motorcar Jim.

Today Charmaine Pwerle has four daughters and a son and lives in Alice Springs.