Photo of artists Marlene Rubuntja, Hubert Pareroultja and Mervyn Rubuntja by Rhett Hammerton. Top artwork by Mervyn Rubuntja, bottom artwork by Hubert Pareroultja. Artwork photos by Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre.

Find Amazing Aboriginal Art From Central Australia At Desert Mob 2020

Celebrate the diverse range of Aboriginal artists in Central Australia at Desert Mob – a multi-faceted art event running online and in-person over the next six weeks!

Writer
Sasha Gattermayr
3rd of September 2020

The Desert Mob marketplace is one of the most highly-anticipated Aboriginal art fairs in the annual calendar. It is part of Desert Mob: a suite of events co-run between Desart and Araluen Arts Centre to celebrate Central Australia’s Aboriginal artists.

Usually, hordes of people would be converging on Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to attend the event. But to keep conditions Covid-safe, Desert Mob 2020 has released a hybrid online-offline program for its 30th year.

At the centre of this is its artist marketplace, which hosts pieces from over 30 participating arts centres. Featuring works from Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Tjala Arts, Mimili Maku Arts, Iltja Ntjarra and more, the newly digital 7-day marketplace is available to the public for free from 12th – 19th of September. You can access it here.

In addition to the marketplace, an exhibition displaying the work of 177 artists will be held in person and online. Displaying both contemporary and traditional styles, the Desert Mob exhibition will be hung at Araluen Arts Centre, and available to access online here. For in-person guests, tickets are free but bookings are required via Araluen Arts Centre. Online sales begin at 9am on Friday 11th September.

A symposium of presentations and storytelling by artists, art centres and special guests will round out this year’s Desert Mob celebration. The 2020 program will be realised as a series of short films released each day, providing a glimpse into the diversity of Aboriginal storytelling and contemporary artistic practice across the regions. These can be viewed on Desart’s website here from September 4th, or on their social channels.

Desart is the peak body of Central Australian Aboriginal arts and craft centres. The collective consists of 34 independently governed, Aboriginal-led art centres from South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. They represent over 8,000 artists across 1.2 million square kilometres.

Access to all events is free.

Desert Mob Marketplace
A digital art fair selling the works of artists from 30 arts centres
12th – 19th September, 2020
Online only

Desert Mob Exhibition
An exhibition displaying traditional and contemporary styles of artists across Central Australia
11th September – 25th October
View it online here

61 Larapinta Drive
Araluen, NT

Desert Mob Symposium
A series of storytelling, performances and presentations by Desert Mob artists
4th – 11th September, 2020
Online only

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