Charmaine Pwerle 'Awelye' Coaster Set

This set of six cork-backed coasters features artwork by Charmaine Pwerle, inspired by awelye (women’s ceremony) for her grandmother’s Country. Awelye is a powerful expression of cultural identity and responsibility, performed by women to honor their ancestors, care for Country, and maintain the health and harmony of their community. The designs represent ceremonial body paint, sacred dance sites, and Dreaming stories connected to Atnwengerrp, a remote area in Central Australia. Charmaine’s bold and expressive painting style carries on the legacy of her grandmother, renowned artist Minnie Pwerle. Created for the exhibition THE LUME Indianapolis Featuring Connection: Art & Music From Indigenous Australians, the set comes packaged with the Connection logo—bringing vibrant cultural storytelling into everyday life.

Dimensions: 3.75" square / each

Royalties on the sale of this product benefit the artist and their family.

About the Artist:

Charmaine Pwerle, born in 1975 in Utopia, Northern Territory, is a rising Alyawarre/Anmatyerre artist known for her dynamic and culturally rich paintings. As the granddaughter of acclaimed artist Minnie Pwerle and daughter of Barbara Weir, Charmaine continues a powerful lineage of Indigenous Australian artistry. Her work draws deeply from her heritage and ceremonies, especially Awelye—women’s ceremonial body paint designs and sacred stories tied to Atnwengerrp Country. With bold brushwork and layered symbolism, her art reflects a deep connection to ancestral knowledge, women’s business, and the land. Charmaine’s paintings are held in both national and international collections, placing her among the most exciting contemporary voices in Indigenous Australian art today.

Charmaine Pwerle is a featured artist in —