TWO years after leaving Fremantle for Perth, Revealed is going from strength-to-strength and shows no sign of looking over its shoulder.
The popular event features an open-air Aboriginal art market at WA Museum Boola Bardip and an exhibition of Aboriginal art at the neighbouring Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.
For the keystone event, Aboriginal artists travel thousands of miles from remote regions across Australia to display their work. Now in its 18th year, Revealed was held at Fremantle Arts Centre for more a decade, before moving to the Perth Cultural Centre in 2025.
• above) Paula Lyons and Nora Nyutjanka Davidson at Revealed in 2025. courtesy Papulankutja Artists, photo by Jessica Russell
“We looked at Revealed and thought, ’Is it reaching the entirety of Perth, WA’s largest art market?’” says Chad Creighton, CEO of the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of WA.
“How can we ensure that it does that? We didn’t do it hastily and did thorough consultation across the industry.
“Just by centralising it, we thought it might be more accessible. We also have this amazing new building in the city, the WA Museum.”
Last year the combined attendance figures for the art market and exhibition were 17,400 and Creighton says this year’s Revealed is set to be the biggest yet.
Based on feedback, they’re introducing food vans and activities for kids, and near the market there will be a stage with live music, dancing, theatre and DJs.
But the core of Revealed is the fantastic Aboriginal art.
There will be a diverse range on display with everything from vivid landscape paintings to fashion and craft making.
One of the highlights is a collaborative work by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers Beep Beep! Driving All Around the Desert, featuring 20 woven vehicles.
“Due to the vast distances in some remote areas, people can spend a lot of time driving in their cars and trucks, so they become really important and almost like a lifeline,” Creighton says.
He notes that Aboriginal art is becomingly increasingly diverse.
“Artists are now exploring fashion, and using glass and woven forms, so people are putting amazing things in their communities,” he says.
“As fashion has been sort of exploding across Australia, we’re seeing not just the printing on fabric, but also the making of garments.
“I think there’ll be something for everyone at the exhibition, at the market and the public programming.”
Revealed kicks off a series of events across Australia focusing on Aboriginal art centres.
Fashion
The one-day Market is extremely important for Aboriginal artists with up to $500,000 generated in total sales.
As part of Revealed’s growing scope, there will be artists’ talks held at PICA.
Moving forward, it could involve partnerships with other like-minded organisations.
“We would encourage other galleries, not just in the city, but whether it’s out in Midland or down in Freo or elsewhere in Perth, to organise satellite programmes, I think it would be really beneficial,” Creighton says.
“We’re focused on supporting emerging artists. It would be great for them to be looking at supporting artists with established careers.”
The open-air market is at WA Museum Boola Bardip on April 18 and the exhibition at the nearby Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts from April 18-June 14. For more info see revealed.org.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK