Australian Aboriginal Art in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often dubbed the City of Angels, has a rich history entwined with art. It emerged as a creative hub in the 20th century with the rise of Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Today, Los Angeles remains a vibrant art centre, boasting world-class museums, galleries, and a thriving street art culture, celebrating its history while pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Fowler Museum at UCLA
The Fowler Museum at UCLA, known for its diverse global arts focus, occasionally includes Australian Aboriginal art in its exhibitions, enriching its extensive collection of non-Western art. These exhibitions, including “Aboriginal Screen-Printed Textiles from Australia’s Top End”, explore themes central to Aboriginal culture, emphasising the museum’s dedication to presenting a wide range of cultural and artistic narratives. The Fowler Museum’s commitment to showcasing diverse global traditions, including the rich heritage of Australian Indigenous communities, cements its status as a prominent venue for cultural and artistic education.
Image: Fowler Museum at UCLA
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Gagosian
The Gagosian Gallery, celebrated globally for its contemporary art, has solidified its esteemed reputation through showcasing modern and cutting-edge art from iconic figures such as Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. Renowned for its high-quality exhibitions and a diverse array of artistic expressions, the gallery represents the forefront of the contemporary art scene. Its foray into exhibitions like “Desert Painters of Australia” reflects its expanding cultural breadth, illustrating a commitment to embracing a diverse range of artistic narratives, including Australian Aboriginal Art. This approach underlines The Gagosian’s influential role in shaping trends and fostering cultural diversity within the international art community.
Image: Kungka Kutjarra by Makinti Napanangka. Image Via Gagosian.
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The Autry Museum of the American West
The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles is known for its diverse collection exploring the history and culture of the American West, including occasional exhibitions of Australian Aboriginal art. These rare showcases broaden the museum’s narrative, offering a comparative look at indigenous experiences and art forms, and enriching its commitment to presenting a comprehensive view of indigenous cultures and histories.
Image: The Autry Museum of the American West
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USC Pacific Asia Museum
The USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena is renowned for its focus on Asian and Pacific Islander art and culture, occasionally including Australian Aboriginal art in its exhibitions. These special showcases, though rare, enrich the museum’s extensive collection, allowing visitors to explore Aboriginal art’s storytelling and spiritual themes. The museum’s dedication to presenting diverse Pacific and indigenous artistic traditions highlights its role in promoting cultural understanding and appreciation.
Image: USC Pacific Asia Museum
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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