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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Cowboy Louie Pwerle

1994
Greg Weight

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 50.4 cm x 40.4 cm, image: 45.5 cm x 36.6 cm)

Cowboy Louie Pwerle (b. 1941) is an Eastern Anmatyerre Elder from Utopia in Central Australia. Born on Old McDonald Station, he has lived on his traditional Country all his life. His name 'Cowboy' is derived from his role as a stockman. He began painting in the 1980s, and is known for his precise dotting style in works that portray the Bush Turkey, Emu and Lizard Dreamings, passing on traditional stories to the younger generation. His works are represented in public and private collections in Australia and overseas.

Packing up in the evening after a day photographing artists and paintings at Utopia, Greg Weight was approached by Pwerle holding his artwork. As he noted in Australian Artists: Portraits by Greg Weight: 'At the end of a long hot day getting the camera back out of the bag can seem like a hard task, but the vision of Louie standing with the delicate painting he had just completed was more than enough reason. We shared this small experience and shook hands.'

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Greg Weight (age 48 in 1994)

Cowboy Louie Pwerle (age 53 in 1994)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Patrick Corrigan AM (130 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency