Aboriginal Art on the rise

This month's ARTnews features "The Rise of Aboriginal Art". Carly Berwick writes a nice article highlighting the inspirations behind the genre and the genesis and growth of the contemporary movement.

In Ms. Berwick's article, there is a one-line mention of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection owned by the University of Virginia. Only one line… deep in the story.

For those of you who don't know... Influenced by the Dreamings exhibition in New York, businessman John W. Kluge began collecting Aboriginal art in 1988. Over the next decade he compiled one of the finest private collections of Australian Aboriginal art in the world. In 1997, Mr. Kluge gifted his collection to the University of Virginia and the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia was born. Today, the Collection stands (in its own building many miles from the main campus) as the largest and finest collection of Aboriginal art in the United States.

Pretty impressive. But, why the University of Virginia doesn't loudly trumpet the existence of this gem is beyond me.

Recently, the University of Virginia Art Museum has made efforts and spent a lot of money in refreshing its image and facility (as part of the "Campaign for the new UVaM"). Why the University hasn't taken this opportunity to brand itself as having the top rated permanent collection of Aboriginal art outside of Australia is, again, beyond me. This should be the identity of the art museum! If ARTnews can identify the importance of this art movement, why can't the scholars at UVa? It's contemporary. It's fresh. It's unique. It's rare in this hemisphere. It's important. It's marketable. It's beautiful. Simple, right?.

Comments

[William Waites]

As one of the few galleries in the US that features Australian Aboriginal art, we applaud this exposure to an outstanding but under-appreciated art genre.

[Aboriginal Paintings]

I agreed with you that the demand of aboriginal art on the rise. Aboriginal artists of Australia can speak with the spirit world through their art work.

Thank you 4 sharing this art news and information.

[Terry Krysak]

I love aboriginal art, and here in Canada we have a large body of brilliant work to see and enjoy.

I did a recent post on my blog, and will do more this summer. I am going to visit some native carvers on Granville Island in Vancouver BC and take some video of them working on some totem poles.

It is fascinating to see them work on site.

[Gloria Petyarre]

Really, great news thank you for sharing.

Aboriginal art is becoming too popular outside the Australia region. Now in USA, people demand rise for buying aboriginal paintings.

[karoline]

I love aboriginal art.

[Gloria Petyarre]

Aboriginal art is the one of the in the world which is getting the more attraction of the people.
One of the main reasons is that this art has the oldest history in the world.
People are showing their more interest in aboriginal painting & tools specially Boomerang and Didgeridoo.

[Andy]

Aboriginal art has been growing in stature for many years, but what about the people who get left behind in the wealth the it creates for others.