Collection: Dulcie Long Pwerle

Born: 1979
Region: Utopia
Language: Anmatyerre
Subjects and Dreaming: Bush Medicine Leaves, My Country

Dulcie Long Pwerle was born 1979 at Mosquito Bore in the Northern Territory. She is the daughter of well known Utopia artist Jeannie Petyarre, who’s work is in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia. Dulcie Long Pwerle continues the strong painting tradition of her extended family. She grew up surrounded by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre, Greeny Purvis Petyarre and the famous sisters, Minnie Pwerle, Emily Pwerle, Galya Pwerle and Molly Pwerle.

Dulcie has continued the strong painting tradition of her extended family. Dulcie began her  career depicting the  leaves of the Pencil Yam from the Alhalkere Country of her mother. It is an important bush tucker food for Aboriginal people as well as a significant dreaming story which is celebrated in their Awelye ceremonies. The women at Utopia maintain the ceremonial dancing and singing that ritually pays homage to the Yam plant and its important role in traditional life, this story with reverence for its history and with the hope that the spirit of the plants continue.

Dulcie also paints Awelye ( body paint) this work depict ancestral country where important Awelye ceremonies take place, the painting depicts the locations of sand hills, bush scrub, river flood plains and sometimes waterholes and ceremonial sites. In Her paintings there is exceptionally fine attention to detail, complex designs and underlying cultural meaning.

With an impressive portfolio of paintings, subjects and styles already to her name, Dulcie continues the Utopia art tradition of creating bold artworks with colour, style and flair.