Jade Akamarre (born Jade Torres) is an Alyawarre and Anmatyerre woman, a fourth-generation artist, and the Founding Director of Pwerle Gallery. A proud descendant of one of Australia’s most celebrated artistic lineages, Jade was raised between her ancestral homelands of Atnwengerrp (Utopia) and her family’s creative legacy. From as young as two years old, she painted alongside her great-great aunt, the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, and her grandmother, the late Barbara Weir. Her great-grandmother, the late Minnie Pwerle, is widely regarded as one of the most important Australian artists of the 20th century.

Entering the art industry at just 22, Jade combined a lifelong immersion in Aboriginal art with over a decade of experience in the fashion and luxury sectors, refining her skills in branding, storytelling, and creative direction.

In 2015, she launched Pwerle Gallery — one of Australia’s only privately Aboriginal-owned galleries without government funding — building on her father Fred Torres’ pioneering work with DACOU. The gallery is dedicated exclusively to representing artists from her direct bloodline and community, preserving cultural integrity while presenting their work to a global audience.

Jade paints under her skin name, Akamarre — a sacred part of the Aboriginal kinship system that determines family relationships, responsibilities, connection to Country, and ceremonial roles.

In 2021, she was entrusted with her first Dreaming by her grandmother Barbara Weir: Atnwengerrp – Dreaming in My Grandmother’s Country. This story maps the Country of her great-grandmother Minnie Pwerle, depicting ancestral tracklines, sacred sites, seasonal changes, and women’s ceremonies from an aerial perspective. Each flowing line and dot formation is a translation of oral histories into a contemporary visual language, carrying forward knowledge that has been nurtured for tens of thousands of years.

Her signature style — rhythmic, linear dot work inspired by the aerial patterns of her homeland — honours the generations before her while inviting global audiences to engage with the living traditions of her community.

An advocate for cultural sovereignty and the protection of Aboriginal art provenance, Jade actively challenges misrepresentation within the art industry and ensures First Nations voices remain central to their own narratives. She has presented and sold works to collectors worldwide, with a particular focus on introducing Aboriginal art to international markers. Her collaborations include bespoke creations for Porsche Australia showrooms, American Express Australia, and cultural showcases with Yamaha Australia — blending the traditions of her heritage with the innovation of contemporary luxury.

Jade’s artistry and advocacy have been featured in VOGUE Australia, Harper’s BAZAAR Australia and Marie Claire Australia. In 2018, she was named one of VOGUE Australia’s Game Changers alongside global figures such as Emma Watson and Margot Robbie, and in 2021 she was a finalist in InDaily’s 40 Under 40 Awards. She has also served on the board of Brand South Australia for a two year term, championing the state’s profile nationally and internationally.

Drawing on over 65,000 years of cultural heritage and generations of family artistry, Jade Akamarre’s mission is to ensure Aboriginal voices and stories are not only preserved but powerfully celebrated on the world stage — with the same strength, beauty, and authority they have always held.