Buy Aboriginal Art Ethically

100% from Community Aboriginal Art Centres

Dot Paintings Arnhem Land Weaving Arnhem Land Subscribers Stretched Paintings Desert Weavings Watercolour Paintings

We make buying and learning about Aboriginal art easy and meaningful by partnering exclusively with community-run, not-for-profit Aboriginal art centres. At ART ARK® your support truly means something.

Celebrating Australian Aboriginal Art

Australian Aboriginal art is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and traditions of Aboriginal communities and reflects their profound connection to the land, the Dreaming, and ancestral Dreamtime stories. Resilient through ice ages and the harsh reality of colonisation, it stands as the world's oldest continuous artistic expression.Aboriginal Art History

Today, Aboriginal art not only preserves cultural knowledge for future generations but also empowers remote communities economically. Indigenous art centres in regions like the Kimberley, the Central Desert, and Arnhem Land are vital hubs of artistic production. They offer social and economic opportunities that are otherwise scarce and foster pride and cultural transmission.

Aboriginal rock painting of megafauna, Quinkan rock art, Laura, QLD

Sadly, not everyone sells Aboriginal art for the right reasons. Unscrupulous dealers continue to exploit artists by paying them only a fraction of the intended sale price, while deceiving unsuspecting buyers. It’s a web of misinformation, with these very same dealers warning of unscrupulous dealers. Cue facepalm.

Supporting Aboriginal Artists and Buying Aboriginal Art Ethically

At ART ARK®, we champion the good side. And there is a good side! An amazing and uplifting industry where buying Aboriginal art supports whole communities. We partner exclusively with not-for-profit, community-run, and publicly audited art centres that prioritise their artists' interests and authenticate the artworks we sell. Aboriginal Art Centres? Ethical Aboriginal Art? Authenticity? Indigenous Art Code?

Murdie Nampijinpa Morris in Nyirripi Community, Northern Territory

Before founding ART ARK®, we worked for these incredible community centres for over ten years. Our mission today is to combat the prevalent exploitation in the Aboriginal art market through education while providing you with a seamless, ethical way to support talented artists. Through these partnerships, we strive to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal art and culture, promoting fair practices and the economic empowerment of Aboriginal communities.

From Desert Dot Paintings to Arnhem Land Barks

Discover our beautiful Aboriginal artworks and take pride in owning a piece that truly makes a difference. When you purchase Aboriginal art from ART ARK®, you're choosing fairness, authenticity, and respect. Each artwork reflects the rich cultural heritage and artistic excellence of Aboriginal communities, ensuring that your purchase contributes to the preservation and empowerment of these remarkable traditions.

Culture, History, Symbols, and Dreamtime Stories

Beyond sharing beautiful artworks with you, we invite you to explore the rich history of Aboriginal art in Australia. Discover the meanings behind Aboriginal art symbols, the significance of the Dreaming, and the artistic expression of Dreamtime stories. This journey will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the cultural heritage and timeless traditions that make Aboriginal art so significant.

Aboriginal Art History

Explore the history of Aboriginal art, tracing its journey from ancient rock paintings, through the impacts of colonisation, to contemporary times.

What is The Dreaming

Learn about The Dreaming, a foundational concept in Aboriginal art and culture that explains the interconnectedness of life and the spiritual world.

Aboriginal Art Symbols

Explore the diverse symbols in Aboriginal art, each embedded with deep cultural meanings and integral to the broader narrative of Aboriginal traditions.

Aboriginal Dot Painting

Understand the emergence of Aboriginal dot painting, an art form that uses intricate dot patterns to tell stories and preserve ancient traditions.

Behind Every Dot, Symbol, and Artwork is an Artist Sharing Their Culture and Supporting Their Family

Discover pivotal Aboriginal artists and the community art centres that support them, and learn more about authenticity and buying Aboriginal art ethically with these articles.

Aboriginal Artist Margaret Lewis Painting her Mina Mina Dreaming

25 Famous Aboriginal Artists You Should Know

Discover 25 famous Aboriginal artists, whose works have significantly contributed to both Australian and international art scenes.

Aboriginal Artist Jeani Lewis Painting her Mina Mina Dreaming

88 Aboriginal Art Centres

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres are vital to Indigenous communities across Australia, serving as dynamic spaces for cultural preservation, economic development, and social connection.

Aboriginal Artist Tina Martin Painting her Mina Mina Dreaming

What We Mean by Ethical Aboriginal Art

We hammer on about ethics because there's a flip side that's not so rosy when buying Aboriginal Art.

Aboriginal Artist Walter Brown Painting his Tingari Cycle Dreaming

Aboriginal Art Authenticity: What It Really Means

Authentic Aboriginal Art is a term that gets thrown around a lot as a catch phrase, mostly by unethical dealers, but if you scratch the surface, it means something.

Aboriginal Art Regions

Aboriginal art has significant regional variations that reflect the unique cultural identities and artistic expressions of different Aboriginal language groups across the continent. Historically, Australian Aboriginal peoples had three main forms of communicating — storytelling, songs, and visual communication through painting, drawing, and the use of ceremonial design. Without a written language, future generations, beyond generational learning, largely depended on the wide breadth of Aboriginal art to communicate and understand past practices and culture. Aboriginal Art Regions

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