The art you choose for your walls says a lot about who you are. It's far more than just an aesthetic choice, and can even be a symbol of activism. It is an indication of who you support and what you want to express to the world. As a way to support Indigenous businesses and individuals, you have probably considered buying First Nations art. It's a great way to continue to support the industry while finding a piece of work that is unique and comes with a story. We're here to give you our top tips on how to buy First Nations art fairly and recommend some of our favourite places to find it.
Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander artworks are highly valued pieces that convey beauty and meaning, holding wisdom, culture, langue and connection to country. While searching for your next piece of art, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you're purchasing ethically and fairly. It's mainly about being fair and transparent in your commercial dealings. Art is for some communities a main source of income for them and others around them.
So, how can you be sure that you're fairly buying First Nation's art?
One of the main things to look out for is if the seller is part of the Indigenous Art Code.
"Making sure you always buy ethically and authentically is not just about protecting the buyer's investment, it's about respect for the world's oldest living culture, ensuring the artists and those around them are paid fairly and securing a sustainable future for Australia's Indigenous art industry," Indigenous Art Code says.
The purpose of the Indigenous Art Code is to establish standards for dealings between dealers and artists to ensure three key principles are upheld:
Indigenous Art Code recommends asking the art dealer these five questions:
- Who is the artist?
- Where is the artist from?
- How did you get the artwork or product in your art centre, gallery or shop?
- How was the artist paid for their work?
- If it is a reproduction of an artist's work, how are royalties or licensing fees paid to the artist?
What are the best places to buy First Nation's art from?
Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-owned-and-operated art centres are the first picks for Indigenous art. They will be transparent about the artwork you're purchasing.
Of course, social media is a major source of discovering works, so following these centres of galleries online is a great way to stay informed about what they have available for purchase.
If you need to learn more about each art centre, there are the peak body organisations representing hundreds of these ethically operated businesses across the country.
We list them here: Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Aboriginal Artist (ANKA), Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of WA (AACHWA), Desart (Aboriginal Art Centres from Central Australia) and the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance supporting Far North Queensland Art Centres (IACA).
Buying directly from the artist is another way to go. Reaching out directly, you can ask questions about where they're from, and where their community is and explain what symbols and motifs are being expressed through their art. That information is quite significant and is definitely worth asking about.
Here are a few places to buy First Nations art.
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Shal XVX
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Koskela
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Ninbella
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Cooeeart
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Baluk Arts
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Marrawuddi Arts & Culture
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If you would like to discover some incredible First Nations creatives to follow, you can read the extensive list. There are plenty of other amazing Indigenous businesses, Indigenous designers and collaborators to connect with.
