Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art

A Melbourne home for fine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art since 1996

The gallery has been operating since 1996 and has built itself a solid reputation dealing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fine art. It pulls in visitors and collectors from right across Australia and overseas. The space sits on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, and the gallery actively acknowledges and respects their ongoing connection to Country, water and community.

Alexis and Huntiri Hessen set up the gallery. They've both been working with Indigenous art and communities since 1988. Alexis studied Indigenous Studies at university, focusing on Aboriginal Cultures and Comparative Indigenous Studies. Huntiri has built strong relationships directly with Indigenous communities, which shapes how the gallery selects and presents work. The pair are members of the City of Melbourne's Indigenous Code of Conduct, which means they take authenticity and provenance seriously for every artwork and artist partnership they work with.

Traditional and contemporary works from Australia's most respected art centres

The gallery stocks traditional and contemporary Aboriginal paintings, ochres, sculptures, ceramics and works on paper sourced straight from Australia's most prominent Aboriginal-owned art centres. They've built partnerships across the country, from the Central and Western Desert regions through to the Kimberley, Arnhemland, Melville and Tiwi Islands, Victoria, and New South Wales. You'll find works from places like Ampilatwatja Artists, Buku, Larrnggay Mulka, Injalak Arts, Mangkaja Arts, Maningrida Arts and Warmun Arts, each with its own artistic traditions and contemporary practice.

All works sold through Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art come with a certificate of authenticity that covers provenance and artist background, plus photographic and video documentation when available. The gallery also represents independent Indigenous artists and carefully selected works from other First Nations peoples, including Indigenous American artists. They reckon this approach means you're getting pieces that actually matter culturally and that come from real working relationships between the gallery, the artists, and their communities.

Diverse pricing and accessibility for all collectors

Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art makes fine Indigenous work accessible to plenty of people. The gallery stocks pieces across a wide range of prices, from affordable options under a hundred dollars through to major paintings. This spread means first-time buyers exploring Aboriginal art can find something to suit, as can seasoned collectors after a significant purchase. The artists represented here are serious talent, including Annie Petyarre, Janet Kngwarreye, Gloria Petyarre and Melisha Possum, with work covering landscapes, dreaming narratives and contemporary abstract styles.

{"text":"Buyers spending above a certain amount get free worldwide delivery, which removes a real barrier for collectors overseas. The selection rotates regularly as new stock arrives from partner art centres, so regulars always find something different on each visit. In-store browsing and online purchases alike come with the benefit of their careful sourcing approach and the directors' genuine effort supporting Indigenous communities through awareness raising, fundraising and charity work.

Visit and opening hours in Melbourne's CBD

Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art is open Sunday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, and shuts on Saturdays. The Bourke Street spot puts you within a short walk of Melbourne's cultural precinct, public transport and plenty of cafes and restaurants. The straightforward storefront welcomes anyone keen to browse or buy, which matters because you really need to see this stuff in person to get what's going on with the colour, size and texture of Aboriginal art.

Can't make it in? The gallery has an online shop where you can look at works and order them, with free worldwide delivery for orders over a certain amount. You can also read interviews with gallery curator Alexis Hessen to learn more about the pieces and the stories attached to them. If you're after genuine, ethically sourced Indigenous art, this place on Bourke Street is worth knowing about.