ARTITJA Fine Art deserves a big pat on the back.
For more than two decades the South Freo gallery has exhibited and championed art from remote Aboriginal-owned centres in WA and beyond.
Without the gallery, a lot of talented regional artists might never get the wider exposure they deserve.
For its final exhibition of 2026, Artitja is holding a special retrospective of its work from the past 22 years.
“Spanning different periods and artistic styles, the exhibition includes rarely seen works, pieces never previously exhibited, familiar favourites and new arrivals,” says gallery owner and curator Anna Kanaris.
“Since 2004, the gallery has established relationships with more than twenty art centres, sourcing works directly from communities across the Kimberley, Arnhem Land, the Pilbara, the Western and Central Deserts, the APY Lands and the Tiwi Islands, and wherever possible, has made personal visits to those centres.”
• A visit to Warlukurlangu Artists art centre in June 2005 with artists Bessie Sims and Judy Watson Napangardi. photo by Anna Kanaris
Artists often make the epic trip—some travelling thousands of kilometres by car, bus or train—to attend the opening night of their exhibition in South Freo.
In the case of First Nations artist Selina Teece Pwerl, who travelled from Central Australia to Perth in 2010, it was the first time she had been on a plane.
Back then she was a fledgling artist doing a joint exhibition with her mum Lulu Teece.
In 2023 she returned to Artitja as an established artist in her own right, showing her latest works as part of the Desert Stars exhibition.
It was a lovely full-circle moment.
Kanaris says artists meeting the public on opening nights is a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
• Tjukula Tjuta by Audrey Brumby.
“Education and cultural exchange have always been central to our exhibition presentations, with a focus on creating cultural connections through art,” she says.
“Our aim has always been to provide audiences with a greater understanding of the cultural perspectives of artists and the stories that inform their work.”
Highlights over the years include WANGKA KUTJU, TJUKURPA TJUTA – One Voice, Many Stories.
It featured eye-catching Minyma Mamu 2D metal sculptures, which reinforce knowledge about Country and teach people, especially children, where it is safe to go and how to act appropriately.
The recent exhibition Ilkaṟi Lipi – Big Sky showcased Ernabella artists from the Musgrave Ranges of far north-west South Australia, with works inspired by the sand dunes, salt lakes, sandstorms and waterholes.
The title of the exhibition reflected the idea of people living and working together beneath one vast sky.
“Sharing knowledge and encouraging meaningful engagement remain important to our philosophy,” Kanaris says.
A signatory to the Indigenous Art Code, the gallery practises ethical and respectful art trading, ensuring artists and their communities benefit from the sale of their work.
“Although carefully curated, this exhibition will have a more relaxed, marketplace feel, with loose canvases and paintings available to purchase and take home on the day,” Kanaris says.
From the Archive is on November 14–29 at Earlywork, 330 South Terrace, South Fremantle. Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm. For more details see artitja.com.au.