Women of Influence Exhibition

Six artists are featured in Women of Influence, each chosen for their known influential characteristics and significant artistic achievements.

Polly Ngale

Polly Ngale is considered one of the most accomplished painters to have come from Utopia, attributed with the ability to use dots to create vivid, almost multi-dimensional patterns of colour, and convey a deep emotion and sensory experience for the viewer. 

Her most notable achievements in this medium are her honourable mention in the 2004 TNATSIA, which was followed by representation at the Contemporary Art Fair in Paris. Also notable is her inclusion in the Emily Kngwarreye and her Legacy exhibition in Tokyo in 2008.

Angelina Ngale

Angelina is one of few people to paint the Atham-areny Story and, due to her pedigree, is the owner of it. Angelina became well known early in her career with her ability to produce fine dot paintings that mesmerised her audience. Other painters tried to follow suit but few could do it with such finesse.

Angelina later reinvented herself when she began painting the Atham-areny Story. Bands of curvilineal structures fill every nook of space on the canvas and pulse with a life of their own. 

Gloria Petyarre

Gloria's influence spans three decades and is shaped by her innate sense of truth. Gloria has remained true to herself, defying confines of culture and traditions, and expressing herself both artistically and personally with the fullest of life.

Gloria is a multi award winning artist, well known for her Leaves paintings which do not pertain to stories from her culture but as an original artistic concept. The motif has since become a phenomena in Aboriginal and Australian art, with many others painting similar styles.

Lena Pwerle

Lena is a senior boss woman at Utopia and, though into her 80's, actively participates on a number of government boards including the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (which protects aboriginal sacred sites within the NT) and the Urapuntja council which governs Utopia. 

Lena's wisdom and seniority carries over to all parts of her life and she can be found teaching and encouraging other Ahalpere women to learn, participate and pass on their culture.

Barbara Weir

Barbara Weir is one of Australia’s leading artists and her artworks have been collected and exhibited around the world for over three decades. Her journey has been one of extraordinary courage and fortitude. She was taken away from her family as a young girl making her one of Australia's Stolen Generation. It took Barbara many years to track down her family and even on doing so, it was difficult to penetrate the family unit and culture she had lost.

Barbara is credited as playing a significant role in helping the Anmatyerre and Alyawarr peoples gain freehold title to the Utopia Pastoral Lease in 1979.

Jeannie Mills Pwerle

Jeannie is a respected and highly sought after ngangker (traditional healer).

To be a ngangker one must be taught the 'whole lot' in traditional medicines; not only the history, use and preparation but they must honour traditions and ngangker's of the past. Jeannie is giving of her time and wisdom.