The work of the late Yolŋu Elder and celebrated artist Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, known for her striking pink-figure paintings, will headline a major international exhibition, The Stars We Do Not See, set to open in the United States next year. This exhibition, which will be the largest-ever showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art to be presented globally, will include works from several award-winning artists, including Richard Bell, Maree Clarke, and Emily Kam Kngwarray.
Curated by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art will feature more than 200 works by over 130 artists. The pieces, drawn from the NGV’s extensive collection, will span diverse regions across Australia, including the Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land, the Torres Strait, and the Kimberley.
“We see this show as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people to discover and fall in love with Indigenous art from Australia,” said Myles Russell-Cook, NGV’s senior curator of Australian and First Nations art.
A Showcase of Cultural Richness
The exhibit will explore the breadth of Indigenous artistic practices, presenting a wide variety of forms including dot paintings, ochre bark paintings, woven cultural objects, and cutting-edge media works such as video and sound installations. This comprehensive approach aims to highlight the vast diversity of Indigenous art traditions and contemporary interpretations.
“We really haven’t held anything back. It’s the best of everything in the collection,” Russell-Cook added.
The exhibition will not only showcase individual artistic brilliance but also highlight key historical moments in Indigenous art. One significant feature will be the story of the Papunya Tula Artists, Australia’s first Aboriginal arts collective, where artists from the Western Desert innovatively created works on discarded composition boards. Additionally, the renowned bark paintings of Gulumbu Yunupiŋu, affectionately known as the “Star Lady,” will be on display, paying homage to her deep connection to the stars—an inspiration behind the exhibition’s title.
Other featured artists include Brook Andrew, Ricky Maynard, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Christian Thompson, and the late Destiny Deacon. Together, these artists reflect the diverse practices and cultural narratives of Indigenous Australia.
Global Celebration of Indigenous Creativity
The exhibition is poised to be a monumental cultural event, offering international audiences an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the richness of Australia’s Indigenous art heritage. With its array of works from remote communities to urban settings, The Stars We Do Not See promises to leave an indelible mark on the global art scene when it opens in the United States in 2025.
Related Topics:
Creating Your Own Comic Book Box: A Step-by-Step Guide