Welcome to Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery

Celebrating the Depth and Diversity of Aboriginal Art

Established in 1998 by Director and Owner Hans Sip, Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery is located at the heritage-listed De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate in regional Victoria, Australia. Since 2018, the gallery has occupied a historic 1800s winery building, creating a powerful setting for its collection of contemporary Aboriginal art and cultural artefacts. The gallery also maintains a second exhibition space at The Plough Inn in Tarrawingee.

The gallery showcases an extensive and diverse collection representing regions across Australia, including: Victoria, Cape York and Arnhem Land (NT), Northern Queensland, The Kimberley and Fitzroy Crossing (WA), Central and Western Desert, Tiwi Islands, South Australia

These works convey rich ancestral stories, sacred sites, and large-scale maps of Country—offering a compelling visual journey into the vibrancy and complexity of Aboriginal culture and storytelling traditions.

A long-time supporter of Indigenous artists, the gallery is the exclusive Victorian and regional NSW representative of the Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation. It also upholds ethical standards in Indigenous art as a proud member of the Art Code.

Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery has earned international recognition, most notably curating Lo Spirito Dell’Arte Aborigena—the largest exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art ever shown in a public gallery overseas, held at Museo d’Arte in Sardinia, Italy, in 2011.

The gallery has also been a major advocate for the late Victorian artist Trevor ‘Turbo’ Brown, commissioning and exhibiting many of his works and contributing several pieces to the National Gallery of Victoria.

Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery invites visitors to engage with one of Australia’s most powerful cultural legacies through its rich and ever-evolving collection

Feature Artists

Billy Doolan

Clifford Possum

John Cummins

Luke Cummins

Emma Stenhouse

Jack Macale

Represented & Featured Art Groups

Lockhart River ‘Art Gang’

Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery proudly represents more than 25 talented artists from Lockhart River, a community renowned for its distinctive and vibrant art. Among the gallery’s artists are internationally acclaimed members of the ‘Art Gang,’ including Rosella Namok, Fiona Omyno, Silos Hobson, Patrick Butcher Jr, Adrian King, and Irene Namok, whose works have gained widespread recognition across the globe. The gallery serves as the exclusive representative for the artists of Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation, covering Victoria and Regional NSW. This partnership enables Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery to showcase and support the unique voices and creative expressions of Lockhart River’s artists in both national and international arenas.

Ngukurr – Roper River, NT

Ngukurr, located on the banks of the Roper River in South East Arnhem Land, is known for its vibrant Aboriginal art scene. Originally an Anglican mission, it became a refuge for displaced people and has a rich cultural history reflected in the community’s artwork. Since 1987, when artist John Nelson introduced large canvases and acrylic paints, Ngukurr artists have gained fame for their innovative and colorful works. Notable artists from the region include Ginger Riley Munduwalawala, Djambu Barra Barra, Amy Jirwulurr Johnson, Willie Gudabi, and Mabel Juli. Their unique styles have earned widespread recognition, with their works exhibited in major galleries across Australia.

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Patrick Butcher Jnr Captivates Audiences
[Exhibition Archive]

A captivated crowd last night packed the house at the newly re-branded De Bortoli Wines Rutherglen Estate cellar door for the Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery landmark exhibition titled: Northern Exposure – Stories from Lockhart River and Fitzroy Crossing.

Flying in from Lockhart River, Cape York, and arriving to the gallery decked out in a thick winter jacket, woolen gloves and beanie; the cold climate was the only shocking element that Aboriginal artist Patrick Butcher Jnr faced as he spoke with confidence and conviction about his unique painting methods and love for Country; and how he expresses it through his art.

Featured Works – Now Instock

Feature artworks now available for purchase.