Investment in Australian Aboriginal Art has for art investors as well as perceptive amateur collectors been a financially pleasing activity. The considerably growing popularity of this authentic art form stretches far across Australia’s borders and draws more and more admires for both professional and personal reasons. Hailed as arguably the last great art movement, works produced emanate from a 40,000 year Culture and Tradition. Australian Indigenous Art now accounts for almost half the value of the Australian art market and around 70% of total exports of Australian art. Although deeply rooted in Aboriginal culture and community, the paintings produced are rich and varied in colour and design and incredibly beautiful to look at. Aboriginal Art is currently the trendiest art scene in Australia, substantially outselling any other type of non-indigenous art and accounting for a good 60 percent display rate in renowned Australian Art Galleries. The major Auction Houses in Australian capital cities will confirm that Aboriginal art truly is a best seller. As the world now is discovering the unique beauty of Aboriginal Art, prices augment radically. Now may be the best time to invest, as prices are dramatically rising, and wise investment will surely guarantee excellent returns. The first thing to do before making a solid investment is to research the artist and his background. With the amount of information available, it is relatively easy to gather career data pertaining to the Australian Aboriginal artists and then you can start to recognize which artists are producing quality paintings that are known to sell well and are in demand. If investment strategies are chosen smartly and artists are selected carefully, your investment in Aboriginal Art can give back considerable financial returns. A work by renowned artist Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri titled “Warlukalong” fetched an impressive AU$2,400,000.00 in Sotheby’s auction Melbourne 2007, setting a benchmark for return on original outlay to the vendor. It is for an investor preferable to have a diversified portfolio, particularly for those who base their purchases through a self managed Superannuation Fund. Although the expression of identity and dreams are universal themes within Australian Indigenous Art, prints, designs, colours and materials differ according to the particular community an artist belongs to. The desert artists mainly uses acrylic medium, and they use it in a myriad of colours and techniques. In other areas such as the Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley in Western Australia, natural ochre pigment is normally used. In this regard, it would be beneficial for an investor to be familiar with the communities and regions where the artists reside. These works are truly unique and individual artworks shaped by members of the oldest indigenous culture in our world. As a collector or an investor of Australian Art, you are assisting in the building of Australian culture and you are by your action contributing to the world’s oldest continuous cultural tradition. As well as style of works, one should also think about further diversification to embrace rising artists with a proven track record and high popular demand, as their works will be less expensive than the already established artists and the probability of high dividends for lesser outlay is a sensible decision. Age is not really relevant as to quality of the artwork; however in Aboriginal art great importance is given on age and the tribal elders are vastly respected so it is in fact significant that all aspects are taken in consideration– style, medium, age of artist and status of artist. A body of works including all of these categories is desirable. When investing in Aboriginal art, provenance is of the highest importance. This will ultimately decide the value of the work. A Certificate of Authenticity is usually provided by the community where the Aboriginal artist works and lives, or alternatively by the gallery from where the painting is bought. You should receive a biography of the artist, the title of the painting and the story behind it, a track record of the artist’s exhibitions and photos showing the artist holding the work in question, These are however not proof of the authenticity of the painting. A purchaser must take into consideration the conditions under which the artwork was executed and the willingness of the artist (some of whom are very shy) in order to assess the importance of photographs. At the end of the day, the recognised technique of the artist is the ultimate proof of authenticity. If a person decides to make a purchase, one must have confidence in the seller of the artwork with regards to authenticity and value. Many factors have to be considered. If purchasing from a Dealer or Gallery, be informed on their credentials and also length of time in the industry, their attitude in selling and membership with recognised associations. Sellers are most likely galleries or individual art dealers, in which case it is important to meet these people in person and check their credentials, references and selling approach. When purchasing on-line, make sure there is a non-conditional money back guarantee in case the artwork is not appropriate for your needs or does not meet up with your expectations. Purchasing directly from the Aboriginal communities might seem to be a good option but it will not necessarily guarantee the artwork’s authenticity. Bear in mind, the Aboriginal artworks that have achieved highest prices through major auctions have not originated at art centres and provenance from a reputable gallery or dealer is also highly regarded. Here we have possibly the most important consideration of authenticity – the known association of the original purchaser of the artwork with the artist. Be assured of this scenario when assessing the value of works by such renowned artists as Rover Thomas, Emily Kngwarreye, Minnie Pwerle, Jack Britten and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjari. For an investor financial benefit might be the first intent, but you should not invest in an art-work that doesn’t appeal to you. Many people discount this fact when their initial or primary objective is investment – however, the ultimate is to purchase investment art of which you are proud. You should take your time buying a painting and match the likelihood of an interesting financial return with personal fulfilment. You will enhance relationships with trustworthy sellers, galleries and Aboriginal communities. It’s definitely worthwhile to extend your research in order to figure out the popularity of an art work. All the famous, respected and successful painters have that one painting that astonishes the crowds and commands head-spinning amounts of cash: think of Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” or Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. This phenomenon is equally true for Aboriginal artists. Once you have taken into account all of the above mentioned considerations, you might be ready to start a promising career as an art investor or collector. Tim Klingender, head of Aboriginal Art at Sotheby’s recently stated new investors should remain careful and patient. Although the majority of art works do not rise in value, Klingender said that if you buy works of the same quality and provenance that the national and state galleries show, there's a good chance they will increase in value over time. Colourful, unique, resourceful and intense, Australian Aboriginal Art can be a wonderful investment that allows you to share the worldview and stories of the Australian Indigenous communities. Take a look online today for a specialist gallery with Aboriginal paintings, artwork and artefacts on display. You will find tons of information, and an incredibly comprehensive inventory of art from which to choose.
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Investment in Australian Aboriginal Art has for art investors as well as perceptive amateur collectors been a financially pleasing activity.
Michiel van Kets provides article services for Scott Linklater, one of four family members who make up the team from Artlandish Aboriginal Art gallery in Kununurra Western Australia. The company has the largest online Aboriginal Art gallery in the world. For information on Aboriginal paintings and Aboriginal paintings visit
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