Here are five Aboriginal art entrepreneurs you should know about who, through their hard work and perseverance, have made a significant positive impact on the world.**[Read More]**
The Aboriginal Art industry is worth $1.2 billion a year to the Australian economy, and more than 500 Aboriginal art galleries operate in all states and territories.
Drawing on extensive interviews with gallery owners and Aboriginal artists, this report highlights the most successful Aboriginal art entrepreneurs, who have built world-class businesses from remote communities. It also explores the challenges that face Aboriginal artists as they seek recognition for their work, and makes recommendations for how policy-makers can help to provide a level playing field for Aboriginal art entrepreneurs.
The Aboriginal art industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Australian Aboriginal art market is worth an estimated $1 billion per year. It is now a highly commercialized art form with great potential for Aboriginal artists, businesses, and communities.
Description: The Aboriginal art industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Australian Aboriginal art market is worth an estimated $1 billion per year. It is now a highly commercialized art form with great potential for Aboriginal artists, businesses, and communities.
‘Artists are able to earn amounts which would otherwise be unthinkable,’ says Dr Justin O’Brien from Monash University in Melbourne.
O’Brien has been studying the commercial development of indigenous arts and culture for many years, mainly at two sites in central Australia: Mutitjulu (an outstation of Uluru) and Kiwirrkura (on the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory).
He says that while not all artists are earning this kind of money, there are many who are doing very well indeed. ‘The most successful artists are selling their work on an international market.’
The Aboriginal art industry is worth over $2 billion annually and employs around 30,000 people.
Aboriginal art is not only a commercial success; it offers a unique insight into the culture and traditions of Australia’s indigenous population.
As we discover more about this ancient art form, Australian Aboriginal Art has become an important part of the cultural and historical record.
In recent years, there have been several Aboriginal artists who have paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps; not only as successful business owners but also as role models and mentors.
The artists have managed to find a niche market in the global art industry. “Contemporary Indigenous Australian art is considered one of the most vibrant and commercially successful areas of the contemporary art market,” says John O’Sullivan, director of Art & Australia at Sotheby’s Australia.
“There’s a real sense that it is an area that has a lot of potential for growth,” he says. “It’s certainly true globally, but also in Australia there are a large number of Aboriginal artists who have been very successful in their careers, and there are a large number of younger artists who are emerging.”
Touchstone Energy is proud to help support this unique program and all of its participants. Aboriginal art from Australia has been shown around the world, including at last year’s Venice Biennale, which featured an exhibition by Nyamal woman Djon Mundine. “The idea was that we wanted to explore contemporary works by Indigenous Australians,” says curator Robert Morataya. “We wanted to present them in dialogue with the rest of contemporary art practice today.”
The best of the art galleries for Aboriginal art in Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, has a beautiful collection that showcases different styles and mediums. By studying the works in this gallery you will get a good overview of Aboriginal art. But if you want to see more, make sure you check out The National Museum of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery.
Founder of Indigenous Business Australia* Frank Hardy established The Hardy Contemporary Collection, which includes work by Aboriginal artists from all over Australia. In addition to its exhibits at various locations around Sydney, this gallery also shows its work in New York City, Paris and Tokyo.
The Papunya Tula Collection is another excellent gallery that showcases both traditional and contemporary works by Aboriginal artists from Western and Central Australia. In addition to its collection, it also offers workshops on Aboriginal art techniques.
Tandanya Art Centre is located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving and promoting the diverse styles found in Aboriginal art in central Australia. The center’s collection includes paintings on canvas, bark paintings, as well as sculpture and other mediums.*
Art is one of the few things that speaks directly to the soul. It is the very core of human existence and, as such, has the power to transform. Aboriginal art is one of the most alluring forms of art in Australia because it is so distinctive, so startlingly beautiful and so closely linked to the culture, spirituality and ancestry of Aboriginal people.
Tjala Arts
Tjala Arts is an Aboriginal owned and operated art centre in Alice Springs. The arts centre was established to ensure that Aboriginal artists have a level playing field when competing with non-Aboriginal artists for government contracts. As a result of operating in a competitive environment, artists are encouraged to create high quality pieces. In addition, Tjala Arts also offers training programs for local Aboriginal people to help them earn extra income from producing their own art.
Tjala Arts is located in Alice Springs at 41 Todd Mall and can be contacted by phone on (08) 8952 8533 or by email at tjala@tjalaarts.com.au. For more information about Aboriginal art visit www.tjalaarts.com.au or find them on Facebook or Twitter @tjalaartscentre
