LENA PWERLE - Soakage

LENA PWERLE TITLE: SOAKAGE ACRYLIC ON CANVAS 76CM X150CM LENA HAS SIGNED THE PAINTING AND A PHOTO OF LENA WITH HER ARTWORK WILL BE PROVIDED REF#LP484 DOB: 1934-2022. Ahalpere - Utopia, Northern Territory Known as: Lena Pwerle, Lena Pula, Lena Pwerl Language: Anmatyerre Dreaming’s: Soakage, Awelye (Women’s Ceremony),Anwekety (Conkerberry/Bush Plum) Lena was a senior Anmatyerre woman and respected cultural leader from Ahalpere in the Utopia Region of Central Australia. Lena held important roles with the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and the Urapuntja Council, helping to safeguard sacred sites and support her people. She was married to the late Left Hand Sam Kngwarreye and was mother to five children, including artist Nora Petyarre. Her life was grounded in family, Country, and the continuation of cultural knowledge. Raised at Utopia Homestead with her siblings Ray Loy, Cowboy Loy and Louie Pwerle, Lena lived and worked across her Country, including Ngkwarlerlanem (a small community in the Barkly Region in the N.T.) where she spent many years with her husband and children. She first painted as part of the Utopia batik movement, a pivotal moment in contemporary Aboriginal art, before moving into acrylic painting in the 1990s. Her early works drew on the colours of her land, while later paintings embraced a more vibrant and expressive palette. Lena is best known for her Soakage paintings—layered, rhythmic compositions of circular forms that map the water sources across her Country. These works speak to the importance of water as a life force, while also holding deeper cultural and ancestral meanings. Alongside this, she painted Awelye (women’s ceremony) and Anwekety (conkerberry), each expressed through her own distinct visual language. A strong and generous presence, Lena encouraged other women to paint, share knowledge, and remain connected to culture. Her work carries both authority and warmth—an enduring reflection of her life, her family, and her Country. Please note: I photograph every painting as carefully as possible, but colours can appear slightly different depending on your screen settings and lighting. If you'd like additional photos, a personal video, or even a live FaceTime viewing before you decide — just ask. I'm always happy to help you feel completely sure. This painting was purchased directly from Lena and a gallery certificate of authenticity will be provided with the sale.