This concise survey showcases the work of Australia’s indigenous artists from all parts of the continent. From Arnhem Land and the desert, the Kimberley and northern Queensland, to modern towns and cities, Aboriginal artists have built on traditions that stretch back at least 50,000 years, working in a variety of contexts from the sacred and secret realm of ceremony to more public spheres. Work across all media is included, from painting, sculpture, engraving, constructions and weaving to the most recent work in photography, printmaking and textile design. The story of Aboriginal art is brought into the 21st century in this revised and expanded third edition with a new chapter that maps the latest developments across each of Australia’s geographical regions. Updated information and more than twenty-five new illustrations highlight, among other things, the impact of urban living, the growth of local art centres which support the work of indigenous artists, and the rise of women artists – all testifying to Aboriginal art’s continued dynamism and vitality.

Wally Caruana was Senior Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, from 1984 to 2001, during which time he oversaw the development of one of the most important collections of Indigenous Australian art in a public museum. Caruana is now a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Art History, Australian National University, and the Senior Consultant, Aboriginal Art, to Sotheby’s Australia.