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Art market makes welcome return to Perth

February 24, 2026

Western Australia’s largest Aboriginal art market and exhibition returns to Boorloo/Perth in April, bringing an open-air market and an eight-week exhibition to the heart of the city’s Cultural Centre.

Organised by the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub Western Australia (AACHWA) in partnership with the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and WA Museum, the program highlights the breadth and strength of Aboriginal art across the state.

Showcase returning to the cultural centre

Now in its 18th year, the Revealed Aboriginal Art Market and its accompanying exhibition will anchor a significant cultural moment in central Perth.

The open-air market will take place on April 18 at WA Museum Boola Bardip, offering direct engagement between artists and audiences. The Revealed Exhibition at the nearby Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts runs from April 18 to June 14, giving visitors extended time to see new works and purchase art.

Key Points

WA’s largest Aboriginal art market returns to Boorloo/Perth in April
Open-air market April 18 at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Exhibition at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts April 18–June 14
Curator: Whadjuk, Balladong and Wilman Noongar artist, Zali Morgan
Tjanpi Desert Weavers feature collaborative work on cars and community
Revealed includes professional development, workshops and talks

The centrepiece, the Revealed Aboriginal Art Market, is designed as a welcoming entry point for anyone interested in acquiring Aboriginal art. Organisers position it as a rare opportunity to meet artists face-to-face, hear their stories, and purchase authentically made works directly from the creators.

The market is complemented by the Revealed Exhibition of new and emerging WA Aboriginal art, which presents an extensive survey of early and mid-career artists from across Western Australia, highlighting the diversity, depth and cultural strength of Aboriginal art practices. The eight-week exhibition also offers artworks for purchase, enabling audiences to spend meaningful time with the pieces and gain a richer understanding of Aboriginal culture.

Curatorial Focus and Cultural Leadership

The exhibition is curated by Whadjuk, Balladong and Wilman Noongar artist, Zali Morgan. Under Morgan’s curatorial direction, the exhibition convenes a broad spectrum of practices and voices, reflecting distinct cultural lineages and contemporary expressions from across the state. The curatorial approach underscores continuity and innovation, situating emerging and mid-career artists in dialogue with living cultural traditions as well as present-day community life.

The event is presented by AACHWA in partnership with the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and WA Museum. The collaboration brings the program to Boorloo/Perth’s Cultural Centre, with WA Museum Boola Bardip hosting the market and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts presenting the exhibition. While the program is structured for the general public, it also supports the practices of independent artists and foregrounds the critical role of WA’s Aboriginal art centres.

Economic Opportunity

Revealed provides a vital platform for Aboriginal artists, most of whom live in regional and remote communities. It is described as the largest economic opportunity for Aboriginal artists in Western Australia, with all proceeds from sales going directly towards supporting artists, art centres and communities across the State.

Beyond sales, the program also offers professional development opportunities, workshops and talks to equip artists and art centres with tools to generate direct income through their work. In addition, organisers emphasise the importance of spotlighting WA’s Aboriginal art centres as vital cultural institutions whose sustainable growth supports regional and remote communities.

“As WA’s largest Aboriginal art showcase,”

— Chad Creighton

AACHWA CEO, Chad Creighton, underscores that the program celebrates the diversity and richness of Aboriginal art and cultures across the state, where traditional practices and contemporary life coexist.

He also has said the return to Perth city’s Cultural Centre serves as a reminder that the roots of the state’s visual culture lie with Aboriginal communities.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers’ Collaborative Work

This year’s program highlights a collaborative work by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers titled Beep Beep! Driving All Around the Desert. The work showcases 20 of their artists and explores the cultural significance of cars and their role in community life.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, enabling women living in remote Central and Western desert regions to earn income from fibre art. Tjanpi represents over 400 Aboriginal women artists from 26 remote communities on the NPY lands.

“Cars help people get around everywhere.”

— Olive Lawson

Olive Lawson of Warburton WA described the essential ways vehicles support community life, from trips to the bush, the shop, the clinic and HACC, to travel for football, weekend drives and funerals.

She said the realities of heat and distance in the region and the importance of a reliable vehicle with cooling. Lawson adds that planning is essential for long drives, including carrying spare water and a tyre, and travelling to Laverton to connect with bus transport to Kalgoorlie.

Artists and Art Centres

Most participating artists live in regional and remote communities across Western Australia, and the program is framed as their largest economic opportunity in the state.

Revenues from market and exhibition sales go directly to artists, art centres and communities. The Revealed platform also shines a spotlight on WA’s Aboriginal art centres, elevating their role as cultural anchors whose growth is essential to the sustainability of regional and remote communities.

Presenting Institutions

Aboriginal Art Centre Hub Western Australia (AACHWA): Presents the program and provides sector leadership, including professional development
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts: Hosts the exhibition from April 18 to June 14
WA Museum Boola Bardip: Hosts the open-air market on April 18

The market is positioned as a welcoming entry point for new and returning collectors, offering face-to-face engagement with artists and the chance to learn about culture directly.

The extended exhibition period encourages deeper viewing and learning, with works also available for purchase, allowing audiences to connect with artists and support communities through direct economic participation.

Key Dates

Open-air market: April 18 at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Exhibition opening: April 18 at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Exhibition close: June 14

Picture: Paula Lyons and Nora Nyutjanka Davidson, Photo by Jessica Russell

Peter Rowe

Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.