List of Australian Indigenous art movements and cooperatives

Australian Indigenous art movements and cooperatives have been central to the emergence of Indigenous Australian art. Whereas many western artists pursue formal training and work as individuals, most contemporary Indigenous art is created in community groups and art centres.

The following external sites are links to some of the Aboriginal-owned and -operated art cooperatives. These cooperatives reflect the diversity of art across Indigenous Australia from the north west region where oscachre is significantly used; to the tropical north where the use of cross-hatching prevails; to the Papunya style of art from the central desert cooperatives. Art is increasingly becoming a significant source of income and livelihood for some of these communities.

Peak groups

These are organisations that represent, or include, a number of Indigenous art cooperatives.

Indigenous art movements and cooperatives

There is a wide range of art centres. They are all Indigenous-owned and/or controlled and are all not-for-profit organisations or, in a few cases, companies owned by the artists (Papunya Tula; Jirrawun Arts). The oldest is Ernabella Arts, formed in 1948. The largest by sales in 2006 were Papunya Tula and Warlayirti.

Name of centre	Location or nearest town	Year established	Major artists associated with centre	External link
Aboriginal Australia Art and Culture Centre	Alice Springs, Northern Territory Alice Springs, Northern Territory Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...	1973		web page
Bima Wear	Nguiu, Bathurst Island, Tiwi Islands Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of .... , Northern Territory	1969		web page
Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative	Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , NSW	1987	Bronwyn Bancroft Bronwyn Bancroft Bronwyn Bancroft is an Aboriginal Australian artist, notable for being the first Australian fashion designer invited to show her work in Paris... , Michael Riley Michael Riley (artist) Michael Riley was an Australian Indigenous photographer and film-maker, and co-founder of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative. A significant figure in Contemporary Indigenous Australian art, Riley's work is held by many public art institutions including the National Gallery of Australia.-Life... , Harry Wedge Harry Wedge Harry J. Wedge is a Wiradjuri artist.Prior to starting his artwork professionally, Wedge worked as a driver and fruit picker until he headed to Sydney to enroll at the Eora College....	web page
Bula'Bula Arts	Central Arnhem Land Arnhem Land The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National... , Northern Territory	1990		web page
Elcho Island Art and Craft	Elcho Island Elcho Island Elcho Island is an island off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. It is located at the southern end of the Wessel Islands group located in the East Arnhem Region. The island's largest community is the settlement of Galiwin'ku.... , Northern Territory	1992		web page
Ernabella Arts	Uluru Uluru Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.... , Northern Territory	1948		web page
Hermannsburg Potters	Hermannsburg, Northern Territory Hermannsburg, Northern Territory Hermannsburg is an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory of Australia, 131 km southwest of Alice Springs. It is known in the local Western Arrernte language as Ntaria....	not known		web page
Ikuntji	Haast's Bluff, NT	1992	Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri was a Pintupi- and Luritja-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region, and sister of artist Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri... , Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri Molly Jugadai Napaltjarri is a Pintupi– and Luritja–speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. Her paintings are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Australia.-Life:...	web page
Injalak Arts & Crafts centre	Gunbalanya, Northern Territory	1989		web page
Irrunytju Arts Irrunytju Arts Centre Irrunytju Arts is an Indigenous Australian art centre based in the community of Irrunytju , Western Australia. Irrunytju is situated near the tri-state border of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, approximately 720km south-west of Alice Springs. The landscape is arid,...	not known	not known	Yannima Tommy Watson Yannima Tommy Watson Yannima Tommy Watson is a senior Pitjantjatjara man from Australia’s central western desert who has become a significant contemporary Indigenous Australian artist...	web page
Iwantja Arts	Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara is a large Aboriginal local government area located in the remote north west of South Australia... , South Australia	1995		web page
Jirrawun Arts	Wyndham, Western Australia Wyndham, Western Australia Wyndham is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway, northeast of Perth. It was established in 1885 as a result of a gold rush at Halls Creek, and it is now a port and service centre for the east Kimberley with a...	not known	Paddy Bedford Paddy Bedford Paddy Bedford was a major contemporary Indigenous Australian artist from Warmun in the Kimberley, and one of eight Australian artists selected for an architectural commission for the Musée du Quai Branly.... , Freddy Timms Freddy Timms Freddy Timms is a leading Australian Indigenous artist from the Kimberley region.-Life and art:Timms commenced painting on canvas in the 1990s at Turkey Creek / Warmun in the Kimberley region of Western Australia....
Keringke Arts	Santa Teresa, Northern Territory	1989		web page
Mangkaja	Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia Fitzroy Crossing is a small town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, 400 km east of Broome and 300 km west of Halls Creek. It is approximately 2,524 km from the state capital of Perth....	early 1980s		web page
Maningrida Arts	Maningrida, Northern Territory Maningrida, Northern Territory Maningrida is a self-governing indigenous community in the heart of the Arnhem Land region of Australia's Northern Territory. Maningrida is located 500 km east of Darwin and 300 km north east of Jabiru. It is on the North Central Arnhem Land coast of the Arafura Sea, on the estuary of the Liverpool...	not known	John Mawurndjul John Mawurndjul John Mawurndjul is an Australian contemporary Indigenous artist. Mawurndjul's artwork is highly regarded internationally. He uses traditional motifs in innovative ways to express spiritual and cultural values....	web page
Maruku Arts	Uluru Uluru Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs; by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.... , Northern Territory	1984		web page
Mimi Arts	Katherine, Northern Territory Katherine, Northern Territory Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...	not known	Bill Yidumduma Harney Bill Yidumduma Harney Bill Yidumduma Harney is a senior elder of the Wardaman people whose homeland is near Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is also known as an artist, storyteller, and musician.-Early life:...	web page
Papunya Tula Papunya Tula Papunya Tula, or Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, is an artist cooperative formed in 1972 that is owned and operated by Aboriginal people from the Western Desert of Australia. The group is known for its innovative work with the Western Desert Art Movement, popularly referred to as "dot painting"...	Northern Territory Northern Territory The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...	1972	Anatjari Tjakamarra Anatjari Tjakamarra Anatjari Tjakamarra was a Central Australian Aboriginal artist who was part of the Papunya Tula art movement. He came from the area of Kulkuta, southeast of Kiwirrkura in Western Australia. He was a Pintupi man.... , Eileen Napaltjarri Eileen Napaltjarri Eileen Napaltjarri is a Pintupi-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. Eileen Napaltjarri, also known as Anyima Napaltjarri or Nanyuma Napaltjarri, began painting for Papunya Tula artists' cooperative in 1996... , Tjunkiya Napaltjarri Tjunkiya Napaltjarri Tjunkiya Napaltjarri was a Pintupi-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region... , Makinti Napanangka Makinti Napanangka Makinti Napanangka was a Pintupi-speaking Indigenous Australian artist from Australia's Western Desert region... , Pansy Napangardi Pansy Napangardi Pansy Napangardi was born at Haasts Bluff in the late 1940s and was moved with the settlement to Papunya in the early 1960s. She is a major painter in what is today known as the Papunya Tula movement... , Timmy Payungka Tjapangati Timmy Payungka Tjapangati Timmy Payungka was was an Australian Aboriginal artist from the Papunya Tula school of painting. He was born at Parayirpilynga near of Wilkinkarra.... , Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri was an Australian painter, considered to be one of the most collected and renowned Australian Aboriginal artists... , Doreen Reid Nakamarra Doreen Reid Nakamarra Doreen Reid Nakamarra was an Australian Aboriginal artist and painter. Reid was considered an important artist within the Western Desert cultural bloc. She was a leading painter at the Papunya Tula artist cooperative in Central Australia.Reid was born in Mummine near Warburton, Western Australia... , Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri, is one of Australia's best-known artists of the Western Desert Art Movement, or Papunya Tula....	web page
ProppaNOW	Brisbane, Queensland	2002	Richard Bell Richard Bell (artist) Richard Bell is an Australian artist and political activist.Bell came to the attention of the wider community after his painting Scientia E Metaphysica won the 2003 Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award...	web page
Titjikala	Titjikala, Northern Territory	not known		web page
Tjanpi Aboriginal Baskets - Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjarra Yankunytjatjara Women's Council	Central Australia (Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia)	1995		web page
Tiwi Island Artists	Tiwi Islands Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands are part of Australia's Northern Territory, north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island and Bathurst Island, with a combined area of .... , Northern Territory	1998		web page
Waralungku Arts	Boroloola, Northern Territory	2003		web page
Warlukurlangu Artists	Yuendumu, Northern Territory	1985	Sheila Brown Napaljarri Sheila Brown Napaljarri Sheila Brown Napaljarri was a Warlpiri speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. A contributor to major collaborative paintings by Indigenous communities, her works are also held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the South Australian Museum.-Life:Sheila Brown was... , Helen Nelson Napaljarri Helen Nelson Napaljarri Helen Nelson Napaljarri , also known as Helen White Napajarri or Helen Spencer Napaljarri, is a Walpiri-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. A literacy worker in Yuendumu, Northern Territory, Helen began painting with Warlukurlangu Artists in the 1980s... , Norah Nelson Napaljarri Norah Nelson Napaljarri Norah Nelson Napaljarri is a Warlpiri-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. Norah Nelson began painting in 1986, and has exhibited her works both in Australia and other countries... , Shorty Jangala Robertson, Liddy Walker, Dorothy Napangardi Dorothy Napangardi Dorothy Napangardi is a distinguished contemporary Indigenous Australian artist from Mina Mina. She is one of around 3,000 Warlpiri speakers who live in or are originally from the Tanami Desert region of Central Australia.... , Paddy Japanangka Lewis, Paddy Japaljarri Sims, Paddy Japaljarri Stewart Paddy Japaljarri Stewart Paddy Japaljarri Stewart, Australian Aboriginal artist. From Mungapunju, south of Yuendumu. Chairman of the Warlukurlangu Artists Committee.Stewart was one of the artists who contributed to the Honey Ant Dreaming mural on the Papunya school wall in 1971 - the very genesis of the modern Aboriginal... , Mary Anne Nampijinpa Michaels	web page
Warmun Art Centre	Warmun (Turkey Creek, Western Australia)	1998	Shirley Purdie Shirley Purdie Shirley Purdie is a contemporary Indigenous Australian artist, notable for winning the 2007 Blake Prize for religious art. Purdie was born at Gilburn, or Mabel Downs Station, in Western Australia's Kimberley region in 1948, and is a painter at Warmun community....	web page
Waringarri Aboriginal Arts	Kununurra, Western Australia	early 1980s		web page
Warlayirti Artists	Balgo, Western Australia Balgo, Western Australia Balgo is a small Aboriginal Community in Western Australia which is linked with both the Great Sandy Desert and the Tanami Desert. The Community is in the Shire of Halls Creek, off the Tanami Road . It has a petrol station, supermarket, Catholic Parish, School Adult Education Centre, Clinic and...	1987	Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri Susie Bootja Bootja Napaltjarri was an Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region... , Takariya Napaltjarri Takariya Napaltjarri Takariya Napaltjarri is an Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region. She has painted with Papunya Tula artists' cooperative... , Topsy Gibson Napaljarri Topsy Gibson Napaljarri Topsy Gibson Napaljarri , also known as Tjayika or Tjanika, is a Pintupi-speaking Indigenous artist from Australia's Western Desert region.-Life:...	web page
Yirrkala (Buku-Larrngay Arts)	Yirrkala, Northern Territory Yirrkala, Northern Territory Yirrkala is a well-known indigenous community in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia, at , 18 km South-East from the large mining town of Nhulunbuy...	not known		web page

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the reference for the location and year of establishment of each centre is the organisation's web page.

External links

Australian Art Collector
Australian Art Collector
Australian Art Collector is a quarterly art magazine. It primarily covers Australian contemporary and Indigenous art, but also occasionally features New Zealand and international artists.-Publication:...

magazine's Guide to Indigenous Art Centres

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