Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia
Touring Portal

Tjungkara Ken, Sandra Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin, Pitjantjatjara people, Seven Sisters 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2020, © Tjunkara Ken, Sandra Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin/Copyright Agency, 2022
Key information
Thank you for hosting this National Gallery touring exhibition.
Exhibition Overview
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia surveys historical and contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia. Drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, the works in this touring exhibition bridge time and place and are interconnected through story and experience.
Ever Present includes the work of over 170 artists as it considers seven overarching and interlinked themes: Ancestors + Creators; Country + Constellations; Community + Family; Culture + Ceremony; Trade + Influence; Resistance + Colonisation; and Innovation + Identity.
Together the works underline the ever-present existence of the First Peoples of Australia.
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is a National Gallery Touring Exhibition supported by Wesfarmers Arts and the Australian Government.
Curator: Tina Baum, Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, National Gallery of Australia
Approvals and Acknowledgements
Please acknowledge the National Gallery and sponsors in all communications and marketing collateral associated with the Touring Exhibition, and send back for National Gallery approval.
Please allow a minimum of five business days for approvals.
The National Gallery must approve the following before publication:
- Marketing collateral (print and electronic) i.e. exhibition posters, flyers, invitations
- Media releases
- Video
Please use the following acknowledgements as outlined:
Signage: All Exhibition signage shall include the logo lock up provided.
Written acknowledgement: Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Spoken acknowledgement: Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Social media acknowledgments: Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Social media tags:
Instagram @nationalgalleryaus @wesfarmersarts
Twitter @natgalleryaus @wesfarmersarts
Facebook @NationalGalleryofAustralia @WesfarmersArts
#EverPresent
Please include logos on all advertising, printed material and marketing collateral associated with the Touring Exhibition as per logo lockup below:
- National Gallery of Australia
- Wesfarmers Arts
- Australian Government, Office for the Arts
Tour Information and Assets
Please find below all assets, including Marketing and Publicity Images (‘Hero Images’) for promotion of the Touring Exhibition.
Using these artworks: What you need to know
Venues are required to read the copyright information below and agree to the terms of use agreement in order to proceed.
Copyright
- The Marketing and Publicity Images (‘Hero Images’) have received copyright clearance only for the uses specified in Marketing and Publicity Images - Approved Uses.
- These images may not be distributed to any other party.
Use of these images outside of those specified in Marketing and Publicity Images - Approved Uses, without the Gallery's or the copyright holder's authorisation, is an infringement which may be subject to legal redress by the copyright holder.
Moral rights
- All images must be correctly acknowledged with the captions supplied herein.
- All images must be reproduced with due consideration for the artist's honour and reputation, respecting their moral rights i.e. no cropping or overprinting of the artwork unless approved otherwise
Infringement of an artist's moral rights may be subject to legal redress by either the artist or the estate of that artist.
Want images to provide to media for their use? See the Media Kit
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki Art Gallery requesting copyright via Copyright Agency.
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Bindi Cole, Wathaurung people, Crystal, 2009, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2012 © Bindi Cole/Copyright Agency
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Timothy Cook, Tiwi people, Kulama, 2010, The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, Boorloo/Perth, © Timothy Cook/Copyright Agency, 2022
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Tjungkara Ken, Sandra Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin, Pitjantjatjara people, Seven Sisters 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2020, © Tjunkara Ken, Sandra Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin/Copyright Agency, 2022
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Julie Dowling, Badimaya people, Self-portrait: in our country , 2002, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2002 © Julie Dowling/Copyright Agency, 2022
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Michael Riley, Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi peoples, Untitled [feather], from the series cloud, 2000, printed 2005, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2005, © Michael Riley Foundation/Copyright Agency, 2022
SUPPLEMENTARY MARKETING IMAGES
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Robert Campbell Jr, Nagku people, Aboriginal camp at sunset, 1988, the Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, Boorloo/Perth
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Daniel Boyd, Kudjla/Gangalu/Kuku Yalanji/Jagara/Wangerriburra/Bandjalung peoples, Treasure Island, 2005, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2006.
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Alick Tipoti, Maluilgal nation, Kala Lagaw Ya people, Koedal Baydham Adhaz Parw (Crocodile Shark) Mask 2010, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2010 © Alick Tipoti
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Yvonne Koolmatrie, Ngarrindjeri people, Eel trap, 1992, bilbili, (sedge rushes, Lepidosperma canescens), 44 h cm, 46 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1995 © Yvonne Koolmatrie
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Ancestor, people not recorded, Torres Strait Islander people, Mask, 19th Century, shell, resin, human hair, fibre string and natural earth pigment on wood, 42 h cm, 36 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2006
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Andrina Kantilla, Tiwi people, Batik textile, 1989, batik on silk, 194 h cm, 113.1 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1989 © Tiwi Designs
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Reko Rennie, Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay/Gummaroi people, Message Stick (Green), 2011, hand-pressed metallic textile foil, screenprint and synthetic polymer paint on Belgian linen, 1405 h mm, 1405 w mm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2012 © Reko Rennie
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Sebastian Arrow, Yawuru people, Jalinyi - Lacepede Shell Patches, 2017, natural earth pigment on pearl shell, 20 h cm, 14.5 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2017 in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum © Sebastian Arrow
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Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, New Zealand
29 Jul – 29 Oct 2023
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Images for press usage only.
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Reflecting on the touring exhibition, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curator Tina Baum shares the histories and realities of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
Brief text (50 words)
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia surveys historical and contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia. Drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, the works in this touring exhibition bridge time and place and are interconnected through story and experience.
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Short text (100 words)
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia surveys historical and contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia. Drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, the works in this touring exhibition bridge time and place and are interconnected through story and experience.
Ever Present includes the work of over 170 artists as it considers seven overarching and interlinked themes: Ancestors + Creators; Country + Constellations; Community + Family; Culture + Ceremony; Trade + Influence; Resistance + Colonisation; and Innovation + Identity.
Together the works underline the ever-present existence of the First Peoples of Australia.
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Long text (200 words)
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia surveys historical and contemporary works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across Australia. Drawn from the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and The Wesfarmers Collection of Australian Art, the works in this touring exhibition bridge time and place and are interconnected through story and experience.
Although Ever Present is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, it does not shy away from Australia’s complex histories. The works challenge stereotypes about First Nations people and what defines their art. The artists contest populist views of Australian history, using art as a tool of resistance and replacing physical weaponry with wit, satire and juxtaposition to confront viewers and to encourage conversations that are essential to dispute outdated myths and ideologies.
Ever Present includes the work of over 170 artists as it considers seven overarching and interlinked themes: Ancestors + Creators; Country + Constellations; Community + Family; Culture + Ceremony; Trade + Influence; Resistance + Colonisation; and Innovation + Identity.
Together the works underline the ever-present existence of the First Peoples of Australia.
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia is presented by the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts in partnership with Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and supported by the Australian Government.
Learning Programs and Resources
Programming and Outreach support
The National Gallery offers programming and outreach support for Touring Exhibitions. Please contact Mary-Lou Nugent mary-lou.nugent@nga.gov.au
Available products

See below for products available for purchase by venues for resale:
Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia catalogue.
Contacts
Touring Exhibitions
Mary-Lou Nugent, Manager, Touring Exhibitions
P 02 6240 6650
E mary-lou.nugent@nga.gov.au
Communications & Marketing
Jessica Barnes, Senior Communications & Content Officer, Touring
P 02 6240 6431
E jessica.barnes@nga.gov.au
Programs & Education
E outreach@nga.gov.au