About Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery at De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate

Located at De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate, Victoria Founded in 1998 by Director and Owner Hans Sip, the Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery showcases an extraordinary collection of contemporary Aboriginal art and cultural artefacts from across Australia. Since 2018, the gallery has been proudly situated within the heritage listed De Bortoli Rutherglen Estate, occupying a historic winery building originally constructed in the 1800s. The gallery also occupies a space at The Plough In, located in Tarrawingee.

A Rich Cultural Collection
The gallery’s diverse collection includes significant works from regions such as:
– Victoria
– Cape York and Arnhem Land (NT)
– Northern Queensland
– The Kimberley and Fitzroy Crossing (WA)
– Central and Western Desert
– Tiwi Islands
– South Australia

These significant artworks convey ancestral stories, sacred sites, and large-scale maps of Country. Together, they highlight the depth, diversity, and vibrancy of Aboriginal culture and visual storytelling.

International Recognition
Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery has contributed to major international cultural exchanges. Notably, in 2011, the gallery presented Lo Spirito Dell’Arte Aborigena at the Museo d’Arte (M.A.N.) in Sardinia, Italy. Featuring over 300 works, it became the largest exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art ever displayed in a public gallery abroad.

Celebrating Trevor ‘Turbo’ Brown
The gallery has been a long-time supporter of the late Victorian artist Trevor ‘Turbo’ Brown, commissioning numerous works and curating large-scale exhibitions of his art. This includes a major exhibition at Benalla Art Gallery, co-curated by renowned Melbourne photorealist Ivan Durrant and his son Jamie Durrant, former curator at Aboriginal Exhibitions.

As a Foundation Member of the National Gallery of Victoria, Hans Sip has donated several significant works by Turbo Brown to the NGV’s collection.

Our Commitment

Aboriginal Exhibitions Gallery has traded since 1998 and is a proud member of the Art Code, upholding ethical practices in the promotion and sale of Indigenous art. It also serves as the exclusive Victorian and regional NSW representative for the artists of the Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation.

Maureen Thomson, Hunting Land, 2003
55 x 117cm, Acrylic on canvas