Cowboy Loy Pwerl
Artist Statement
COWBOY LOY PWERL c. 1941 -
Region: North Eastern Central Australia
Residence: Atneltyeye, Utopia
Language: Eastern Anmatyerr
Cowboy was born c.1941 at the sheep camp on
Old McDonald station in the north east of Central
Australia. He is an Eastern Anmatyerr speaker
whose traditional country lies on the western side
of the Sandover River on Utopia station,
stretching west onto Mt Skinner station.
He is the younger brother of Louie Pwerl (now
deceased), and custodian of a secondary series of
Dreaming sites over the same area, the great
variety of which can be seen in his paintings. He
often depicts the nesting place of the Bush
Turkey.
The name 'Cowboy' comes from his reputation as a stockman and his 'flashy' dressing. Cowboy changed his name from William to reflect this.
Cowboy is married to Carol Kngwarrey and Elizabeth Kunoth Kngawarrey, both daughters of Nancy Petyarr, and he lives most of the time at Mosquito Bore (Atneltyeye) but also spends time at Boundary Bore on the western boundary of Utopia land and Soakage Bore (Atnarare), south-east of Lytntye. Cowboy’s daughter, Genevieve Loy, is also a painter.
Region: North Eastern Central Australia
Residence: Atneltyeye, Utopia
Language: Eastern Anmatyerr
Cowboy was born c.1941 at the sheep camp on
Old McDonald station in the north east of Central
Australia. He is an Eastern Anmatyerr speaker
whose traditional country lies on the western side
of the Sandover River on Utopia station,
stretching west onto Mt Skinner station.
He is the younger brother of Louie Pwerl (now
deceased), and custodian of a secondary series of
Dreaming sites over the same area, the great
variety of which can be seen in his paintings. He
often depicts the nesting place of the Bush
Turkey.
The name 'Cowboy' comes from his reputation as a stockman and his 'flashy' dressing. Cowboy changed his name from William to reflect this.
Cowboy is married to Carol Kngwarrey and Elizabeth Kunoth Kngawarrey, both daughters of Nancy Petyarr, and he lives most of the time at Mosquito Bore (Atneltyeye) but also spends time at Boundary Bore on the western boundary of Utopia land and Soakage Bore (Atnarare), south-east of Lytntye. Cowboy’s daughter, Genevieve Loy, is also a painter.