For generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have used naturally occurring ochres, clay and charcoal as traditional materials for painting on cave walls, weapons and on bodies for ceremony. During the advent of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement around 50 years ago, many artists began to embrace acrylic paint as their medium of choice.

Over the decades since, First Nations artists have experimented with the creative potential of acrylic paint (synthetic polymer paint), adopting bright and contrasting colours to produce spectacular visions of Country, convey powerful narratives, and challenge conventional ideas about Aboriginal art.

In Indigenous patterns there is an encoded language that conveys a deep-rooted connection to the narratives of - and social and cultural obligations to - the land. The artists in this gallery bring colour and pattern together in a visual language that communicates complex stories, beliefs, and cultural knowledge. Playing with vibrant hues in uplifting combinations, in rich painterly brushstrokes, these artists offer new depictions of Country and open up fresh journeys for interpretation.

Gallery map

Locate The power of colour collection on our Gallery map.