Art Stars

In the past decade a talented cluster of artists has emerged from the geographical edge of Australia to excite the art world to gain commercial and critical attention. The stories are almost too good to be true.

Octogenarian Sally Gabori, who painted her first picture when she visited the Mornington Island Arts and Craft Centre in 2005, is having sell-out shows across Australia and in 2008 her work was acquired by the prestigious Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.

Dennis Nona, a one-time pearl diver who started off by drawing his dreams of waves and dhogai (witches), is now creating fabulously intricate carvings and linocuts. They have brought him national and international recognition, including the 2007 Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, and spurred a dynamic new printmaking movement working out of Cairns and the Torres Strait.

Queensland’s urban Indigenous artists are recognised among the elite of Australia’s contemporary artists with Judy Watson, Gordon Bennett and Vernon Ah Kee highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

Meanwhile emerging art stars such as Tony Albert, Alick Tipoti and Samantha Hobson of the Lockhart River Art Gang are building an impressive resume of Australian and overseas exhibitions and gallery acquisitions.

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is uniquely placed to show the work of these artists from the edge. It will bring their work to the world and it will bring the world to the region that has inspired their distinctive vision. The Art Fair will also play a vital role in building the Indigenous arts industry in Far North Queensland, supporting newcomers and raising the profile of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.

Indigenous art centres from around Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait will participate alongside commercial galleries in the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. These centres play a vital role in building skills and seeking out opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Their presence highlights the important link between arts centres, communities and some of Far North Queensland's most successful artists.

In this way the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair will be a fascinating hybrid where art is sold and a story is told..