Disclamer: This website IS NOT the website of auctioneers of fine art and antiques – Bonhams. For a Bonhams Australia auctioneers site please visit: http://www.bonhams.com/aus/australia/

Australian art

Australian art is all about the art in Australia beginning from the contemporary up to the prehistoric ages. This means the Aboriginal Art in Australia is also included. Other forms of art included in Australian art are Modernist, Atelier, Landscapes and the Australian Colonial Art. Visual arts in Australia has its roots dating back 30,000 years since the Aborigines were still the settlers in this place. There are a lot of famous artists that Australia has produced. They have western artist and Aboriginal artists. Some of the traditions that are included in the Australian arts are the expatriates in London, Heide Circle of Modernist, Western Desert Art Movement, and the 9th century watercolorist. During the mid twentieth century the Australian art market was dominated by the Modernist figuration including Fred Williams, John Olsen, Charles Blackman, Jeffrey Smart, John Brack, Brett Whiteley, Russel Drysdale, Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, and Ian Fairweather. These artist focus their works of arts in abstraction. Lloyd Rees and William Dobell were the ones who created the most notable works. The best modernist photographer in Australia is Max Dupain. Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Ron Mueck are modern indigenous artist that are garnering a lot of attention at present.

Museums and Galleries

There are a lot of museums and galleries in Australia. This is proof that theu keep their culture of the arts alive. Some of the major art galleries and museums in Australia are the Art Gallery of New South Wales found in Sydney, the National Museum of Australia found in Canberra, National Portrait gallery of Australia, National gallery of Australia, and the National Gallery of Victoria located in Melbourne. UNESCO also included sites like Kakadu National Park and Uluru as important art museums and galleries in Australia.

Aboriginal Australian Art

Aboriginal Australian Art has been coming in the continent since 60,000 years ago. Some of the Aboriginal Australian Art that are still preserved and are proof of this art can be traced back to 30,000 years ago. Uluru and Kakadu are National Parks that has proof of rock art from the Aborigines. There are also other protected parks in Australia that has proof of the Aboriginal Australian art that dates back 30,000 years ago. Ku-ring-gai Chase national Park is an example of a protected park with proof of Aboriginal Australian art. The Friends of Australian Rock Art is an advocate of the preservation of these national parks. There is also a Rock Art Research Center in Australia that is committed to preserve these national parks and raise the awareness of the people regarding these places. Cave art in Australia is very old and abundant. These cave arts can be compared to Europe’s Lascaux and Altamira. There is a belief stating that the rock art of the Aborigines in Australia is the oldest ongoing type of art in the whole world.