Aboriginal Art is “An Exceptional Art Form“
Many Australians are sharply divided as to whether they prefer more traditional genres of art like landscapes or more contemporary and abstract visual forms. And these divisions relate to differences Read More
Tarnanthi 2020
The Art Gallery of South Australia has announced that this year's Tarnanthi Festival, its annual celebration of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, will highlight how the creativity of Read More
Art Fairs Exit – and Entrance
The online art fairs are over for 2020. Still no sales figures from either Darwin (See Below) or Cairns though an examination of their websites suggests that sales at the Read More
Fairs Fare
The two biggest First Nations art fairs are both either on or about to be. So, if you've a sense that these devastating times are just the right ones to Read More
“The Art of the Nation“
Thank you mob in Darwin for this business. Thank you. At last. I feel proud. I've been trying all my life, all the time second, fourth, last, sometimes nothing. But Read More
Art Is Fashionable
The inaugural National Indigenous Fashion Awards were handed out last night in Darwin (ie online) courtesy of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (also online), which has been promoting this sub-branch Read More
The Salon, 2020
For the first time in umpteen years, I haven't been in the balmy night in Darwin attending the opening of the Salon des Refuses - Aboriginal art's response to the Read More
MR R PETERS 1935-2020
The outstanding philosophical thinker of the Gija people in the East Kimberley, Rusty Peters has died in his 86th year. This long tall, thin and reticent man let his painting Read More
EMILY v DOROTHY
What a year for the women! Major exhibitions are currently on (with serious catalogues) for Mavis Ngallametta (QAG), Nyapanyapa Yunupingu (MAGNT) and Destiny Deacon (NGV); earlier this year Emily Kngwarreye Read More
The Convict Valley – The Hunter
Commandant James Wallis emerged for me “ though not perhaps for Mark Dunn, The Convict Valley's author “at the symbolic epicentre of this history. Have you ever heard of him Read More
Repatriated Art at Auction
Coincidentally, two substantial foreign collections of Aboriginal art have been returned home in COVID-time to be sold at auction. Tonight, online, Deutscher & Hackett offer the Peter and Renate Nahum Read More
Kaurna Shield Comes to Adelaide
The Federal Government has announced $100,000 to support the acquisition of a rare 19th century Murlapaka (also spelt Mulubakka) shield, attributed to the Kaurna people from the Adelaide Plains, by Read More
Fashion Goes Indigenous
Everywhere you turn at this time there's news of some new venture in First Nations fashion. The ladies fashion mags are full of it, the museums are leaping on the Read More
Desecration in the East Kimberley
According to Elders from the art community of Warrmun, supported by the Kimberley Land Council, sites of cultural significance in the East Kimberley have been destroyed by large-scale granite mining Read More
The Gambay Language Map
Ever wanted to speak just a little of the language of the artists who created your artworks? Or even just to find out what language or languages they do actually Read More
ARTISTS HONOURED
The Queens Birthday Honours may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons “ too many politicians going over and beyond in backstabbing and power-grabbing, for instance “ but Read More
ONLINE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
In a foreshortened and online film festival, the normal Sydney winter feast is a comparatively muted affair this year as a result of the COVID crisis. Sadly, only two First Read More
An Archive of the Industry
Incredibly this is my 600th report, critique, commentary or essay for Aboriginal Art Directory. It all began in 2007 when the site was set up privately to assist remote art Read More
RIP Malu Gurruwiwi ““ Custodian of the Banumbirr
It is with great sadness that the Vivien Anderson Gallery has announced the passing of Malu Gurruwiwi, custodian of the Banumbirr - Morning Star ceremony. He lived from1942 to 2020 as Read More