Aboriginal Art in Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland’s radiant capital, balances modern skyscrapers with rich history. Along the Brisbane River, the city flourishes with parks and the serene South Bank beach. Central to its arts scene, institutions like the Queensland Art Gallery highlight Aboriginal art, connecting Brisbane’s urban vibe to its ancient heritage. A true gem for cultural enthusiasts.
FireWorks Gallery
FireWorks Gallery in Brisbane is celebrated for showcasing a blend of contemporary and Indigenous Australian art, with a special focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists since 1993. The gallery’s commitment to these works facilitates cultural understanding and ensures the traditions and stories of the world’s oldest living cultures are recognised and valued within Australia’s dynamic art scene.
Image: Rain Story by Ronnie Tjampitjinpa. Image Via FireWorks Gallery.
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Institute of Modern Art (IMA)
The Institute of Modern Art (IMA) in Brisbane is renowned for its dedication to contemporary and experimental art, with a history that spans back to 1975. It stands out for its presentation of Australian Aboriginal art, featuring seminal artists like Richard Bell and Gordon Bennett, who explore and challenge Indigenous Australian narratives. Although the IMA does not maintain a permanent collection, it remains a vital space for the discourse and exhibition of Aboriginal art within the contemporary art scene, promoting understanding and dialogue through its thought-provoking exhibitions. For the latest exhibition information, one should refer to the IMA’s official website.
Image: Institute of Modern Art (IMA)
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Mitchell Fine Art
Mitchell Fine Art in Brisbane is distinguished for its diverse curation of Australian art. Featuring works from prominent artists such as Minnie Pwerle, the gallery adeptly bridges traditional and contemporary Indigenous art. Its dedication to Aboriginal artistry not only showcases the genre’s visual beauty but also its cultural resonance, positioning Mitchell Fine Art as an important venue for appreciating and understanding the evolving narrative of Australia’s First Nations artists.
Image: Munga Munga by Barney Ellaga. Image Via Mitchell Fine Art.
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Museum of Brisbane
The Museum of Brisbane is an emblematic space that captures the essence of the city’s culture and history, including a dedicated focus on Australian Aboriginal art through its exhibitions. These exhibitions delve into the traditional and modern narratives of Indigenous artistry, offering insights into the spiritual and cultural heritage of Australia’s First Peoples. The museum’s engagement with Aboriginal art highlights its significance within Brisbane’s diverse cultural landscape, fostering a deeper appreciation of these works’ aesthetic and historical importance. For detailed information on specific Aboriginal art exhibitions, the museum’s website is the best resource.
Image: Museum of Brisbane
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Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), located in Brisbane, is renowned for its extensive display of Australian Aboriginal art, forming a key component of its diverse and historically significant collections. The gallery’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Collection is one of the world’s most esteemed, offering visitors insight into the enduring connections Aboriginal artists have with their land and heritage.
Image: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
VisitWhat is Aboriginal art?
Aboriginal art is part of the culture of Australian Aboriginal people who have lived on the Australian continent for over 50,000 years. They represent the longest continuous culture to be found anywhere on earth. Examples of Aboriginal art are found in caves and rock shelters, and the oldest of these have been dated back at least 18,000 years.
When did Aboriginal art start / how old is Aboriginal art?
Aboriginal art is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history, with Australian Aboriginal people having settled on the Australian continent somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago. Evidence of Aboriginal culture is found in the rock art, which so far has been dated back at least 20,000 years, while archaeology has dated ancient campsites back to 50,000 to 65,000 years. Contemporary Aboriginal art is considered to start at the desert community of Papunya in 1971, when senior desert men began to paint their cultural stories using modern materials. This was prompted by school teacher Geoffrey Bardon requesting that school children paint their own stories, leading the senior men to open up their deeply held cultural knowledge to outside observers. The Papunya Tula desert art movement then influenced other communities to join the art movement through the following decades.
Where did Aboriginal art come from?
Australian Aboriginal people had two traditional forms of communication. These were oral storytelling and song as well as visual communication through drawing, painting and the use of ceremonial design. There was no written language, however for many survival depended on the ability to remember where food and water sources could be found at different times of the year. Aboriginal artists often paint maps of Country showing important landmarks. They often use an aerial perspective even when they have never been in a plane.
What is “Dreaming” (or “Dreamtime”) in Aboriginal art?
At the heart of Aboriginal culture and therefore of Aboriginal art, is the Creation law set down in the Dreaming, which provides the identity for traditional Aboriginal people and their connection to the land. Dreamtime is one translation of the Creation time for Aboriginal people, other terms often seen are Jukurrpa and Tingari - the term used varies according to the particular local language. Many Aboriginal artists paint aspects of their Dreaming, which forms part of their inheritance and their identity.
Read More: Aboriginal Art and the Dreamtime
Can I learn about specific Dreaming stories (e.g., Seven Sisters, Water Dreaming)?
Yes, Japingka’s guides cover stories like Seven Sisters (Pleiades) and Water Dreaming, explaining cultural context and how artists depict them.
Read More: Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories
What is dot painting and where did it come from?
Australian Aboriginal dot paintings are typical of a style of art works from the Central and Western Desert. They are a medium for telling stories and enlivening culture.
Read More: Aboriginal Dot Painting
Japingka Gallery ships Aboriginal artworks worldwide. View artwork collections.
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Galleries in Australia