The AGNSW has a broad collection of works on paper, bark and canvas, as well as sculptures, fibre works, photomedia and multimedia – of which only a small proportion are on display at any given time. The recent Sydney Modern Project expansion added a huge additional new building to the AGNSW campus – and now the Yiribana Gallery, which is dedicated to showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, has been elevated from the lowest level of the original building to a bright new dedicated space right by the entrance foyer. You can see more work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists throughout the Gallery, including Lex Namponan's wooden camp dogs hiding throughout the building.
Whether you're visiting from overseas or a curious local looking to get beyond the basics (Dot paintings? Bark paintings? Just the tip of the iceberg), these are the places to see the best of Australia's diverse Indigenous art practice.
You can also see the work of a handful of Aboriginal artists on the streets of the city: check out our hit-list of the best public art in Sydney, including Bara (2022), a 6.4-metre-tall marble sculpture created by Waanyi artist Judy Watson on the headland overlooking Bennelong Point and Circular Quay.
