Originally opening on August 28 at Earlywork in South Fremantle, Across The Way is a new exhibition bringing together a diverse range of storytelling, artistic styles and perspectives from five Western Australian remote Aboriginal-owned art centres.
From the Kimberley to the Pilbara, the Western Desert to the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, and from the foothills of the Blackstone Ranges to the tri-border region of WA, NT and SA, the exhibition reflects the incredible range of contemporary First Nations art emerging from these communities.
They include Ninuku Arts, situated just 10 kilometres across the WA border in the Pitjantjatjara Lands of South Australia.
Curator Anna Kanaris, whose gallery, Artitja Fine Art, celebrates its 22nd year in 2026, has been exhibiting First Nations art throughout that time.
She says the work reveals the richness and diversity of a contemporary art movement that is constantly evolving.
"Several of the artists featured in the exhibition are also represented at this weekend's prestigious Sydney Contemporary art fair, and are current finalists in major national art awards," she said.
"It's a wonderful reflection of the calibre and quality of the exhibition."
From established, internationally acclaimed and collected artists such as Bugai Whyoulter, born in 1939, who "as a teenager, recalls seeing 'whitefellas' for the first time as they drove cattle along the Canning Stock Route through Martu Country", to 29-year-old emerging artist Cassaria Hogan, whose paintings reflect her experiences of travelling on bush trips, ACROSS THE WAY encompasses such a diverse range of styles, stories and perspectives that its appeal is wide.
"Having seen several generations of artists since the late 1990s developing the art form and sharing their ancient and ancestral stories through visual art, I never tire of or cease to be amazed by the extraordinary generosity of spirit of these artists," Kanaris said.
"Through their art, they willingly educate us about their ancient cultural practices in such an accessible and powerful way."
Artitja Fine Art Gallery is a signatory to the Indigenous Art Code, committed to working to ethical standards.
Across The Way exhibition is open to the public until the 13th of September. Exhibiting at Earlywork, 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle.
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