At the Venice and Sydney Biennales, they highlight the importance of stories and perspectives rooted in land and sea
The Art Basel article highlights the growing recognition of Indigenous and First Nations artists at global exhibitions like the Venice and Sydney Biennales, with Australian artists playing a central role in this shift. At the 60th Venice Biennale, Yolŋu artist Naminapu Maymuru-White was celebrated as one of the first women in her community to depict sacred clan designs, her works connecting ancestral stories to contemporary audiences. Likewise, Marlene Gilson, a Wadawurrung elder, brought forward reimagined histories of colonization from an Aboriginal perspective, while the Māori Mataaho Collective’s monumental textile works emphasized the strength of Indigenous women’s practices across Oceania. These contributions underscore how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are reshaping cultural narratives on the world stage, with their presence at Venice and Sydney affirming Australia’s vital role in the global conversation about Indigenous art and identity.
By Stephanie Bailey