Sydney offers numerous opportunities to experience incredible Aboriginal art from across Australia. Steeped in rich history and cultural significance, these artworks tell stories of ancient traditions, spirituality, and the enduring connection between the land and its people.
From Aboriginal-owned galleries to major museums, you’ll find authentic works that celebrate and preserve Indigenous culture.
Here are the best places to experience Aboriginal art in Sydney.
1. Aboriginal Art Galleries, QVB
Proudly involved in the Indigenous art industry for over 28 years, Aboriginal Art Galleries features artwork from internationally renowned and emerging artists. It showcases a variety of crafts, artefacts and didgeridoos alongside beautiful paintings.
2. Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
The Australian National Maritime Museum’s permanent exhibition, EORA First People, features bark paintings, sculptures and artefacts from Australia’s Aboriginal coastal and river communities, showing their strong connection with the sea.
3. Boomalli Aboriginal Art, Leichhardt
Boomalli is an Aboriginal-owned co-operative with a main gallery for major exhibitions and smaller galleries used by Boomalli’s Artist members to mount and curate solo exhibitions.
4. Art Leven, Redfern
Australia’s oldest Aboriginal fine art gallery has a regular exhibition program. A member of the Indigenous Art Code, Art Leven, formerly Cooee Art, specialises in Indigenous paintings, sculpture, limited-edition fine art prints, quality artefacts and hand-crafted gifts.
5. Kate Owen Gallery, Rozelle
Kate Owen Gallery has over 2,000 artworks by 200 artists. A proud member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia, all paintings come with certificates of authenticity and, where available, photographs of the artist creating the work and with the completed work.
6. Museum of Sydney
The Edge of the Trees sculpture in the museum forecourt marks the site of first contact between the British colonisers and the Gadigal people of Sydney. The museum takes visitors on a journey through Sydney from 1788 to contemporary times.
The Gadigal Place gallery honours the diverse and complex history, culture and survival of the Gadigal clan on whose land this museum stands.
7. Spirit Gallery, The Rocks
A premier location for Aboriginal Art in Sydney, Spirit Gallery is also the only specialist Sydney didgeridoo shop, representing the most recognised craftsmen in the country all under the one roof. It’s conveniently located in the Rocks near the Sydney Visitor Centre.
8. Yiribana Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
The Yiribana Gallery has beautiful art by acclaimed Indigenous artists. It also includes the Yiribana Project Space, and a range of changing exhibitions. Yiribana means ‘this way’ in the language of the Eora people and acknowledges the location of the gallery on Gadigal land.
