The gallery specializes in fine Aboriginal art with an emphasis on Cape York, the Northern Territory and the Tiwi Islands. Extensive stocks are held of noted Victorian artists Tevor Turbo Brown and Craig Charles as well the master Clifford Possum. It is a major exhibitor and was the main contributor to “Dreamtime – Lo Spiroto Dell’Arte Aborigena” a landmark exhibition of over 350 items from eighty artists shown at the MAN Museum, Nuoro, Italy. Due to its size the exhibition was shown in two parts with each running for three months and taking over the entire museum area. The show was funded by the Italian Government and had the support of the Australian Embassy in Rome.
Aboriginal Exhibitions has also loaned its collection to the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery for “Jowalyuppa” a major exhibition in 2004 of the art of Luke and John Cummins, the Queensland Art Gallery for its ground breaking 2003 “Story Place” exhibition and The Wagga Wagga Art Gallery for its amazing “Colour Country” Ngukkurr show in 2009. More recently it has fielded the largest exhibitions held to date for Turbo Brown, “All Animals Running Free” at the Benalla Art Gallery in 2013 and “Turbo” at The Bright Art Gallery ” in 2014.
Renowned artist Billy Doolan who has been represented by the gallery for many years has been commissioned by it to produce nine pieces of his Hong Kong impressions as part of a residency at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. The residency is for a month from the 23rd of April 2014 to the 23rd of May 2014 and the completed works will be exhibited in Hong Kong later in the year.
History
The gallery opened in 1998 with Hans Sip as the sole trader. It incorporated in 2003 as Three Brothers Gallery Pty Ltd before the name change to better reflect its activities.
Hans had collected Chinese art over many years prior to specializing in fine Australian Aboriginal art. The initial emphasis was on art from Cape York and came about through a chance encounter with Gu Gu Yalanji artist Luke Cummins. He was selling a painting which was destined to be presented to President Clinton by Andrew Peacock the then Ambassador to The United States. The presentation fell through however and the gallery gladly bought the piece. Luke then asked if the gallery would represent him. Not long after Hans met his brother John an amazing talent and the gallery decided to support him too. Billy Doolan, a Palm Island artist was introduced by the Cummins brothers and he also requested representation. His friend, master carver and Hinchinbrook elder Russ Butler became the last artist to come on board for the gallery.