Gracie Morton Pwerle

Who is Gracie Morton Pwerle?

Gracie Morton Pwerle is a senior Alyawarr artist, born around 1956 at Utopia in Central Australia. She is the daughter of Utopia artist Myrtle Petyarre and the sister of famous artists Gloria and Kathleen Petyarre.

There is a rich artistic tradition that runs through Gracie’s family as well as the Utopia community. Not only Gracie’s aunties but her sisters, Mary, Rita and Elizabeth, are also artists.

When did Gracie begin painting?

Gracie Morton began painting in the late 1980s during the “A Summer Project”, where acrylic paints and canvas were introduced to the women of Utopia. Her artworks have been well received throughout Australia and overseas.

What is Gracie’s role in her community?

Gracie is a senior traditional custodian of the Arnwekety (Bush Plum) Dreaming, and in accordance with traditional law she is responsible for ensuring the Dreaming, customs and traditions associated with the Bush Plum are upheld. This responsibility was passed down to Gracie from her father and aunt.

What are the theme’s of Gracie’s art?

Gracie’s primary subject in her artwork is Arnwekety and through her artwork she depicts the changing seasonal influences on the plant. Gracie creates a wonderful lyricism in her artworks, causing a three-dimensional visual effect that guides the observer through the soft outward reaching fields of colour.

Gracie’s artworks are represented in major private collections including the Holmes à Court Collection and her artworks are exhibited regularly throughout Australia. She has been a part of international exhibitions in China, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.

Collections

Beher Collection, Reimers Foundation, Deidesheim, Germany
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Artbank, Sydney
Holmes a Court Collection, Perth
Slaughter and May International Law, London

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2002 Land is Life. Art from Australia, Jagdschloss Granitz, Binz, Ruegen, Germany
2002 Kulturnacht, Aboriginal Art Galerie Baehr, Speyer, Germany
2001-02 Recounting the Essence of Life. Art from Australia, Kunstforum HDZ, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
2001 The Unseen in Scene, Staedtische Galerie Wolfsburg, Germany
2001 Alliance Francaise de Canberra , Canberra
2000 Mosquito Bore – The Art of the Minimalist, Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Australia
2000 Kunst der Aborigines, Leverkusen, Germany
2000 Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Cairns, Australia

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021 Sounds of Summer 2, Japingka Gallery, Freemantle
2020 60 by 60 – Small Paintings, Japingka Gallery, Perth
2020 Cup of Joy – New Works from Rising Stars, Japingka Gallery, Perth
2018 Painting on Country – Utopia Artists, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA
1999 Alliance Francaise de Canberra and French Embassy, Canberra
1999 My Country – Journey of our Ancestors, Ancient Earth Indigenous Art, Cairns
1999 Mbantua Gallery, Alice Springs
1999 Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
1998 Utopia und Balgo Hills, Aboriginal Art Galerie Baehr, Speyer, Germany
1998 Dreamings, Spazio Pitti Arte, Florence
1998 Culture Store, Art Gallery, Rotterdam
1996 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1994 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1993 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1992 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1991 8th National Aboriginal Art Awards, Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1991 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1989-91 Utopia: A Picture Story, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide
1989 – 91 The Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Ireland
1989 – 91 Meat Market Gallery, Melbourne
1989 Utopia Women’s Paintings. The First Works on Canvas. A Summer Project, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
1986 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs
1985 Desert Mob, Araluen Centre for the Arts, Alice Springs

Related Artists

• Gloria Petyarre