Buying Indigenous art can feel complicated. Without a doubt, the history of Australian Aboriginal art is deeply tied to colonialism — the dispossession of Aboriginal land, the denial of Indigenous political agency, and the control over cultural knowledge.

But when you buy through Aboriginal-owned art centres and ethical galleries, you’re supporting self-determination, cultural authority, and the passing on of stories and law to future generations.

During the art boom of the 1980s to early 2000s, some dealers — often called carpetbaggers — took advantage of artists by paying unfairly, misrepresenting works, or even selling forgeries. While these problems haven’t disappeared completely, the growth of Aboriginal-owned art centres has changed the landscape.

These community-run organisations give artists control, ensure fair payment, and protect the cultural provenance of each work — its deep connection to Country, community, and the Dreaming story it carries — making it possible for buyers to support art in a way that is ethical and empowering.

Art centres supply quality materials, pay artists fairly, and ensure each artwork is made within the community, where storyholders paint while passing their stories to the next generation.

When you buy a painting, it comes with a certificate of authenticity that confirms not only its documented provenance but also its cultural provenance — the living connection carried in its Dreaming story, which you are helping to carry forward.

At our gallery, ethical practice means working directly with Aboriginal art centres. For us, provenance is more than paperwork — it’s about supporting Indigenous self-determination, respecting culture, and helping shift a market once shaped by inequality into one built on trust and reciprocity. When you buy through an ethical gallery, you are not only acquiring a work of art — you are honouring the artist, their story, and the community it comes from.

The most valuable works are those with ethical provenance and a living connection to Country and Dreaming.

The speculative boom of the 1980s — when some buyers made large profits from reselling Indigenous artworks — is long over, and that’s a good thing. Today, most collectors focus on the cultural value of the work, the integrity of the artist, and the role art plays in sustaining communities.

Paintings by both established and emerging artists often hold or increase in value over time, especially when they have ethical provenance — works from respected art centres, created with strong connections to Country and Dreaming, and often showing distinctive qualities such as bold abstraction, refined technique, or aesthetic harmony. These factors can give a work enduring appeal in both cultural and market terms.

But that’s not the main reason to buy Indigenous contemporary art. Living with an artwork — learning from it, being moved by it — is a very different experience from treating art purely as an investment. When you buy in this way, you’re entering into a relationship with a living tradition, supporting the artist’s community, and helping carry their cultural future forward.

It’s not easy, but we look for paintings we hope will stop you in your tracks — rooted in tradition, yet speaking with a fresh, contemporary voice. Sometimes, though, it’s like love — you might find yourself warming to an artwork slowly, discovering its depth and beauty over time.

We care deeply about what we show. Curate is really just another word for select, but it carries more weight — we’re not only choosing what is beautiful, but what feels vital: an important story, a significant artist, or someone at a compelling stage in their career.

We’re drawn to works that lean toward abstraction rather than direct representation — pieces that stir something in you. It’s sometimes elusive, but when a painting takes your breath away or you feel it in your heart, we know it belongs here.

We look for artists who come from strong painting traditions — whose work is part of a lineage yet speaks with a fresh voice. While we honour the legacy of the established Indigenous “old masters,” our focus is on living artists whose work feels contemporary and forward-looking.

We’re also looking out for the next generation — emerging artists whose work brings something bold, new, and deeply felt into the world.

Our gallery is curated, not comprehensive. We don’t aim to represent every style or region in Australia. Instead, we focus on specific artists and communities whose work aligns with our values: contemporary relevance, cultural continuity, and creative innovation. Often, that means working with regions where strong intergenerational traditions of painting persist — and where artists are pushing those traditions into new territory.

We want you to love your artwork. We also want every artwork you take home to feel right — here’s how we handle returns and exchanges with care and respect.

If you purchase online and it’s not right for you, you may return it within 21 days of delivery for a refund or exchange.

Conditions

Artwork must be returned in its original condition, with all documentation and packaging.

Return shipping is at the buyer’s expense, unless the return is due to damage or an error on our part.

Returns must be sent via a reputable courier or art transport service, with insurance.

In-gallery purchases

All in-gallery sales are final, except in cases of damage during delivery or a major defect not disclosed at purchase, in line with Australian Consumer Law.

Damaged on delivery

If your artwork arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving it, with photographs of the packaging and the artwork. We will arrange repair, replacement, or a refund, depending on the circumstances.

Commissioned or custom works

Commissioned artworks and custom orders are not eligible for return or refund unless faulty or damaged.

We want your artwork to arrive safely and in perfect condition, wherever you are in the world. Shipping is included in the purchase price for all rolled artworks sent within Australia and internationally.

Most paintings are shipped rolled in a protective tube, wrapped in acid-free, non-woven cloth for protection, with a certificate of authenticity included. This method is safe for acrylic paintings on canvas and is the standard way to transport larger works internationally.

We work with reputable couriers, and every parcel is fully insured for its journey. Once your artwork is dispatched, we’ll send tracking details so you can follow its progress.

If you need a painting shipped flat or stretched, we can arrange this for an additional cost — please contact us to discuss options.

Delivery times vary by location, but most international orders arrive within 7–14 business days after dispatch. Sometimes artworks are sent directly from remote communities, which may add extra time. If this happens, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Yes. Every artwork comes with a certificate from the Aboriginal art centre, along with a Roger Davis Gallery certificate, confirming both documented provenance and cultural provenance — the living connection to Country and Dreaming.

We’re here to guide you. Whether it’s your first piece or part of a collection, we’ll help you understand the stories, artists, and communities so you can choose with confidence.