Life is better with art


Aboriginal Art Blog
ART ARK®



Jan Billycan (Djan Nanundie)

Biography of Aboriginal Artist, Jan Billycan (Djan Nanundie)The significance of water to Billycan’s art reflects not only its physical importance in a harsh, desert environment but also its deeper cultural resonance. Water is both life and history, a symbol of survival in a landscape that is often unforgiving.

Continue reading →




Why you should vote YES in the 2023 Referrendum

When we vote "YES," it's more than rectifying past mistakes. We're collectively acknowledging our growth as a nation and ensuring that past wrongs don't dictate our shared future. We're expressing trust in the insights and expertise of our First Nations people and emphasising the value of their voices.

Continue reading →


Papunya Tula Aboriginal Art Centre

Papunya Tula is the first Aboriginal Art Centre in Australia and emerged in the early 1970s from the community of Papunya, a location roughly 240km northwest of Alice Springs. The centre has a proud tradition and stands as a remarkable emblem of the profound depth and complexity of Indigenous Australian artistry.

Continue reading →


The Aboriginal Flag

A Symbol of Identity, Resistance, and Unity The Aboriginal Flag represents not only the First Nations people of Australia but also the long and complex history of indigenous rights, resistance against colonisation, and the continuing struggle for recognition and justice.  Australia, like many other countries with a history of colonization, bears the scars of cultural dislocation, oppression, and the suppression of its indigenous populations. The Aboriginal Flag stands as a potent reminder and emblem of the indigenous people's past, present, and future aspirations.   Who designed the Aboriginal Flag? The Aboriginal Flag was designed by Harold Thomas, a Luritja man from Central Australia, in 1971. The flag features three horizontal bands and its design is simple, yet profoundly symbolic:  ...

Continue reading →


Joining the dots: analysing the sustainability of the Australian Aboriginal art market

This is getting into the weeds for many but for those truly interested in the Aboriginal Art Market we love this 2010 paper which is reproduced here with permission from the author, Meaghan Wilson Anastasios. ------------------------ ''So here’s the pre-publication version of the paper, which looks at the sustainability of the Aboriginal art market using empirical evidence drawn from auction figures. My conclusion is that Aboriginal art, rightly or wrongly, is treated by the market as anthropological, rather than fine, art, and that this has implications for the mid- to long-term sustainability of the market...''

Continue reading →


Jilamara Arts & Crafts Aboriginal Art centre

Tiwi Island artworks often revolve around significant Tiwi ceremonies, like Pukumani (burial) and Kulama (initiation), offering glimpses into the island's cultural core. The term 'Jilamara' in the Tiwi language means 'design', a fitting representation of the Aboriginal Art centre's oeuvre.

Continue reading →


Warmun Aboriginal Art Centre

The Warmun Aboriginal Art Centre is a thriving, self-sustaining art center owned and run by the Gija people. Founded in 1998, the centre is a cooperative venture that supports contemporary Australian Indigenous painting by established Warmun artists. Located in the heart of the Gija country, the Warmun Art Center is a must-see for visitors to the region.

Continue reading →


Mowanjum Aboriginal Art Centre

Located near Derby in the Kimberley region, the Mowanjum Arts Centre represents three major language groups: Worrorra, Ngarinyin, and Wunambal. The centre is not only an arts space but a living cultural centre that serves as a stronghold for preserving and promoting the heritage of these communities.

Continue reading →