Lena Pwerle (dec)

Artist: Lena Pwerle 
Skin name: Pwerle (also spelled Pwerl, Pula) 
Language group: Anmatyerre 
Country: Ahalpere 
Area: Utopia Region, Central Australia
Born: 1934 
Deceased: 2022

Lena began painting in the 1990’s and later became known for her Soakage paintings.

Initially she worked in the medium of batik along with over eighty other women from the Utopia Region in Central Australia. Her work in batik is featured in “Utopia – A Picture Story”. In 1996, Lena represented Australia in Western Samoa for the Festival of Pacific Arts where she was marked as ‘among the best available talent’. In this same year she also travelled to Indonesia with other women of Utopia for a workshop funded by the Northern Territory Department of Education so that they could learn more about the art of batik.  

Lena was a 'boss woman' at Utopia and was on a number of government boards including the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (which protects the sacred sites within the NT) and the Urapuntja council which governs Utopia. Lena’s personality reflected this immense responsibility while exuding good nature and humour.

Lena encouraged other Utopia women to participate in exhibitions and ceremonies, and share their knowledge to promote their culture and community spirit.

In 2019, Lena suffered a stroke and was moved from her humpy in Utopia to an aged care facility in Alice Springs so she could have the care she needed. In 2022, Lena passed away. She is survived by her sister Rosie, daughter Doreen, sons George and Paul Club, grand children and great grand children.