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Support local artists at the best aboriginal art galleries in Perth
Aboriginal art isn’t just a form of painting; it’s a living tradition that’s been around for over 40,000 years, making it one of the oldest ongoing art forms on the planet. Passed down through generations, the art style remains popular among Australians today.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to Perth’s vibrant Aboriginal art scene. We listed down our favourite Aboriginal art galleries across the city and its nearby towns where you might find a breathtaking painting for your new flat or office!
Creative Native
Location: Forrest Chase, 158 Murray St
Website: https://creativenative.com.au/
Contact details: +61 466 401 977, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Creative Native started with a small collection of artworks from 10 Perth-based Aboriginal Artists in 1987, but the art gallery has since grown and now houses a range of aboriginal art collections from various artists around West Australia.
When we entered the gallery, we didn’t expect to see more than just paintings since most art galleries just have paintings and sculptures. They have bowls, plates, boomerangs, didgeridoos (traditional Aboriginal instruments), and more souvenirs.
Jilan, one of the staff we met there, was an absolute sweetheart. She explained the art pieces to us without hard-selling any of the pieces, which made the whole experience really comfortable and fun.
Pro Tip: Didn’t like any of the paintings in the gallery? You can ask the staff for a custom art piece with your own choice of style, theme, colour, and artist (as long as they work with the gallery).
Japingka Aboriginal Art
Location: Union Stores Building, 47 High St, Fremantle
Website: https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/
Contact details: (08) 9335 8265, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Housing over 3,500 Aboriginal artworks, Japingka Aboriginal Art, is home to one of the largest Aboriginal art collections in Western Australia. The two-storey art gallery is one of our go-to art galleries when we want to introduce Aboriginal art to our foreign friends.
We recently visited the gallery for its Purnululu art and Tingari art exhibitions. The exhibitions are held at the two galleries on the upper floor and present a range of art pieces, each carrying a unique charm despite their pretty similar style.
While the exhibitions were stunning, we usually found the most breathtaking paintings on the first-floor display. They have paintings from different budget levels, so we were able to take home a painting without really going over our budget.
Pro Tip: They sometimes put some paintings on sale, so make sure to monitor their website. Some paintings can go for as low as $200.
Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery
Location: Mandoon Estate, 10 Harris Rd, Caversham
Website: https://maalinup.com.au/
Contact details: 0411 112 450, [email protected]
Operating hours: Thursday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery may be smaller than the other galleries on this list, but it doesn’t fall behind when it comes to presenting good Aboriginal artworks. Displayed on its historic buildings are beautiful artworks, jewellery, and shirts from Aboriginal artists.
One of the main reasons this is one of our favourite Aboriginal art galleries is they have affordable paintings, so everyone can buy something. Some of their paintings are sold for under $50, making them perfect for those who are just starting to collect art.
Plus, we love that the gallery doesn’t just showcase Aboriginal artworks but also Aboriginal culture. We also got to try some bush tucker (native food from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) when we visited the art gallery.
| Pro Tip: Message the art gallery first to ask if they’re open before going! Although we haven’t experienced it, some people who went to visit the art gallery didn’t get in because it was closed despite not having any announcement on the website. |
Artitja Fine Art Gallery
Location: 28 Scotia St, Wiluna
Distance from Perth: 25 minutes away
Website: https://artitja.com.au/
Contact details: +61 418 900 954, [email protected]
Operating hours: By appointment only
After almost 20 years in business, Artitja Fine Art Gallery has solidified itself as one of the top Aboriginal art galleries in Western Australia.
With an extensive collection from artists in the western and central deserts, this gallery might be the home to your next art piece.
I’ve only been here once when I joined a friend who made an appointment with the gallery, but it was enough for it to be one of my favourite galleries. The owners were very well-versed in Aboriginal art and gave us a really great tour of the gallery.
We also fell in love with some of the paintings hung on the gallery’s walls. They had a pretty unique style compared to the ones I’ve seen in other galleries, especially the landscape-themed ones, which drew us more to them.
Pro Tip: The gallery hosts five exhibitions annually, so make sure to monitor their website for the details! You can also sign up to their mailing list on their website to make sure you don’t miss the news about their exhibitions.
