Aboriginal Art Store Website

Our Artists

2011-11-22T08:37:51Z

Central Art proudly represents over 200 Aboriginal artists from the Central and Western desert regions of Central Australia. One particular region Central Art specialises in are works from Utopia; homeland to many established artists like Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gloria Petyarre, Barbara Weir, Kudditji Kngwarreye. Utopia is also an important place in the movement of Indigenous art. Central Art builds on

Respects Aboriginal Art and Culture
Supports and Nurtures Indigenous artists
Protects Indigenous artists and their artwork
Promotes ethical and transparent business practices
Member of the Indigenous Art Trade Association
Member of the Art Code

Utopian artists and their Dreamings The themes in Utopian works follow traditional Dreaming stories. However, unlike the art in adjoining regions, the stories are not represented in an iconic or figurative sense, but more in a spatial sense. At times ‘the whole story’ is produced and at other times the artists may focus on just one element. Female Utopian artists are at the forefront in Australian Aboriginal Contemporary Art . These women continue to maintain their traditional culture in Awelye (women’s ceremony), in which the traditional body painting done during ceremony is transferred onto canvas. Other artists pay homage in their art to their traditional role as food gatherers, as well as their respect for the land and the food it provides. Many art works relate to specific food types such as the bush yam, bush medicine leaves or bush melon seeds. Please click onto the following category to view the artists from Utopia.

Utopia Aboriginal Art: Painting from the Central Desert

Central Art represents Warlpiri artists from the region of Yuendumu. Yuendumu art holds a unique place in contemporary Australian Aboriginal art. Collectively, the works have a highly characteristic style and colour palette that sets them apart from all other desert paintings. Yuendumu artists incorporate strong traditional iconography in their work. Central Art is privileged to work amongst talented artists such as Dorothy Robinson Napangardi and Judy Watson Napangardi. These women are have paved the way for upcoming emerging artists. Please click onto the following category to view the artists from Yuendumu:

Central Art has strong ties with many artists and their communities from other regions of Central Australia. Their works derive from an ancient culture. Please click onto the regions galleries to view their unique styles:

Central Art follows the careers some Pintupi artists from the Western Desert. There are art community such as Kintore and Kiwirrkura , who have produced a profusion of fine Aboriginal artists, such as Makinti Napanangka, Walangkura Napanangka, Naata Nungurrayi, women artists Central Art admires and continues to showcase and promote their work. Amazingly there are new second generation of artists to emerge from this region. The Western Desert artists are also known as the Papunya Tula artists. Please click onto the following category to view the Aboriginal artists from Kintore and Kiwirrkura Central Art represents:

Our Aboriginal Art

2011-11-18T23:23:32Z

Central Art specialises in the acquisition of quality Indigenous artworks from Central and Desert regions of Central Australia. We represent over two hundred Indigenous artists, both well-established and emerging. The contemporary Aboriginal art that Central Art does showcase is of spiritual traditions and cultural practices. Each region is unique and styles and themes vary across the country. Indigenous artists from Central and Western desert area frequently paint particular 'Dreamings', or stories, for which they have personal responsibility or rights. The iconography portrayed by many Aboriginal artists, such as those from Papunya, originated as translations of traditional motifs marked out in sand, boards or incised into rock. The symbols used in designs typically include those denoting place, those denoting movement, others that may indicate people or animals and dot fields that may indicate a range of phenomena such as sparks, clouds or rain. Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store is one of the leading Indigenous on-line galleries offering a diverse collection of contemporary Indigenous art for purchase. Central Art follows a well defined provenance and authenticity process to ensure that we are an exemplar in our business practice. Careful and detailed documentation follows – each work is given a catalogue number, inscribed on the back of the artwork with the Central Art stamped logo, the artist's signature and the title of the work. Central Art offers a window for all into the rich cultural world of the Aboriginal people of Central Australia. To artists and buyers it offers the opportunity to come together within the framework of a vibrant and equitable art business. Please click onto the link below to enter the gallery.

Aboriginal Art Gallery at Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store

The Central Art Aboriginal Art and Culture section is a collection of articles, audio's and videos relating to Australian Aboriginal people and their art. Here you will find stories on Aboriginal Dreamings, interviews with Aboriginal artists as well as information on the different Aboriginal art regions. Please click on a category below to view the full archive.

Central Art Staff

2011-08-16T06:08:34Z

On a rare occasion, Central Art's team came together for a photograph for our first exhibition abroad. Each of us have essential roles in making our gallery function well. We all feel very privileged to be working in such a dynamic environment with many talented emerging and established Aboriginal artists from Central & Desert regions of Australia. At Central Art, we believe that is important that our customers and clients know who they are communicating with either through our on-line gallery, phone or in person. If you would like to know more about Central Art and the relationship we have with Aboriginal Artists, please read the following articles:

From Left to Right- Cristie Evangelista, in charge of Finance. Sabine Haider, Gallerist & Visual Arts Photographer. Philomena Hali, Curator. Juneta Bowey, Personal Assistant.

About Us

2011-08-15T08:39:29Z

Central Art is a leading gallery specialising in art from the very heart of Australia – contemporary works by Aboriginal artists of the Central and Western Deserts. It uniquely combines a large private showroom in Alice Springs with a richly informative on-line gallery, so that viewers anywhere can enjoy this exceptional art and learn more about the Aboriginal artists, their traditional lands and culture. The women artists of Utopia, including the famous Petyarre sisters, have pride of place at Central Art. The gallery also deals in work by prominent artists from the Western Desert communities of Kintore, Kiwirrkurra and Yuendumu. Owner and director Sabine Haider has worked in the field for 15 years, having lived in Central Australia for most of her life. She brings to the business a deep understanding of how the artists work and of the beliefs and customs, encapsulated in stories, that are at the core of their practice. Sabine deals only with artists she knows personally and, together with her curator, chooses each work herself, guided by her assessment of its style and significance. Careful and detailed documentation follows – each work is given a catalogue number, inscribed on the back of the painting, together with the Central Art logo,the artist's signature and the title of the painting. Sabine talks to the artists herself about the traditional stories and imagery represented in their work as well as their biographic details, to ensure that written information is genuine and accurate. She develops a caring and nurturing relationship with her artists – their mutual respect assures the ongoing supply of quality artworks for the gallery collection. Sabine is a visual arts photographer. Assisted by her staff and using state of the art equipment, works are photographed with meticulous care, allowing them to be reproduced on the website with great clarity. Her attention to detail allows Sabine to share with clients her encounter with the artists and their work. She sees it also as a way of doing honour to the art itself, reflecting its value to the culture, the artist and the ultimate owner. The attractively presented documentation, including Certificate of Authenticity, artist biography and working photographs, is provided to the buyer upon purchase. All clients – private collectors, interior designers, magazine publishers, investors, corporate representatives,educators – receive individual attention at Central Art. By appointment, Sabine provides one-to-one consultations and viewings in the gallery/showroom located in central Alice Springs. From time to time the venue is also used for select exhibitions, presented with Central Art's trademark attention to authenticity, quality and detail. The gallery's extensive documentation and photography of artwork, including close-up views, offers on-line clients a comparable level of consideration and care. Each artwork on display at Central Art is fully certified under the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct. This ensures that artists have been treated respectfully, professionally and fairly and that buyers can be sure of the work's provenance and authenticity. The voluntary Code of Conduct proposes artwork agreements when galleries are dealing directly with artists. Central Art is the first gallery in Alice Springs to have such agreements in place. Central Art is committed to artists having control over the production and marketing of their work. Sabine is Vice President of the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association, the first woman to hold this role, and sees the Indigenous Art Code, which the association promotes, as an important ethical tool for artists and galleries alike. Central Art offers a window for all into the rich cultural world of the Aboriginal people of Central Australia To artists and buyers it offers the opportunity to come together within the framework of a vibrant and equitable art business.

Indigenous Art Code

2011-05-19T07:30:10Z

Central Art is an approved signatory of the Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of Conduct. Gallerist and director Sabine Haider is a keen champion of ethical practice in the Aboriginal art industry and sees the voluntary Code of Conduct as a way of helping to achieve that. Through her membership of the association The Australian Indigenous Art Trade contributed to the development of the code and energetically promotes it to her fellow art dealers. Central Art conducts all of its dealings according to the code’s guidelines. This includes full certification of all artworks sold through Central Art. Central Art is committed to Aboriginal artists having control over the production and marketing of their work. While understanding and respecting the preference of many artists for working within the art centre environment, the company also appreciates the independence of those who choose to deal directly with private galleries. Central Art believes strongly in artists being able to exercise that choice, an empowering experience for them. Central Art also knows that its clients are anxious to be reassured about the authenticity and commercial fairness of what is being offered for sale. Provisions like the code’s artwork agreements and certificates for work purchased directly from artists are seen as helpful tools in the development of an industry of high repute. Sabine Haider spends a lot of time with the artists she works with, ensuring that they understand their artwork agreements. This is not just a matter of understanding the agreement’s terms. Sabine wants the artists to understand the kind of business decisions that influence the ultimate price of work Central Art may sell. The Code of Conduct adopted and promoted by Central Art is a way of helping stamp out practices that exploit artists and besmirch the industry that has grown out of their deep cultural commitment and creative brilliance. In brief, Code signatories are required to:

Act respectfully, conscionable and professionally in dealings with artists.
Ensure that the artist clearly understands the terms on offer and provide a written artwork proposal to the artist which outlines these terms before an agreement is and a written record of what was agreed.
Respect the cooling off period rights of the artist..
Be transparent and responsive in regard to payments.
Provide true information about the authenticity and provenance of the work.
Supply a Code certificate for any work that is purchased directly from the Artist.
Respect Indigenous cultural practices and artist's rights.
Take proper care of artworks in their possession.
Provide reports to the artists on progress with sales and other details regarding their work
Adhere to compliance and complaint handling procedures.

For further information please refer to the official website Indigenous Australian Art Commercial Code of conduct

Central Art's Relationships with Aboriginal Artists

2011-04-30T04:08:10Z

For Sabine Haider (Gallerist/Owner of Central Art) dealing in art is about relationships, first and foremost her relationships with the artists she works with. She only sells work by artists she knows personally. In the beginning Ada Bird Petyarre and her relatives would visit Sabine at her home. They’d sit down on the ground with her and teach her about the stories behind the ceremonial body paint designs and the bush tucker (native food plants) represented in their canvasses. Now Central Art has its own physical home, a large well-appointed showroom in Alice Springs available for pre-arranged private viewings. For Sabine it is important that the artists she works with feel comfortable here. They can visit any time. It is here mostly that she continues her education in their culture although she loves to ‘go bush’ with them when she can. She deeply appreciates how safe they make her feel even when they take her hunting for goanna. Her experience with the artists has been a great privilege and a way of staying grounded, in touch with the meaning of their work and vocation. In return, apart from the purchase of paintings, she offers the artists the benefit of her commercial skills. Sabine does not enter into exclusivity arrangements with them. They are quite free to offer their work to whomever they want. At the same time she is confident, because of her relationship with them, that she is offered the very best of what they do. Sabine buys each work on its merits, never work of a type. She never specifies subject matter, size, format, colour; never orders in quantity. She has to personally respond strongly to a work before she can think about buying it and offering it for sale. She spends a lot of time with the artists on making sure they understand their agreement with her, especially the difference between what she is paying them and what she will try sell the work for, and why there is a difference. She talks to them about the vagaries of the market, the variation in prices, changes in taste, in what collectors are looking for, but also about the importance of avoiding mass production. She talks to them about the critical issue of provenance and has encouraged them to develop their signatures and sign the back of their canvasses, which they now do with a great deal of pride. Sabine’s dearest hope is that by the time she retires the artists she has worked with will be able to sell and market their own work, take charge of their own destiny.

eCalendars and Desktop Backgrounds

2010-01-11T17:50:48Z

Central Art have designed a collection of beautiful e-Calendars for your computer's desktop background. The range includes four of our exciting featured artworks. These backgrounds are free for you to download and enjoy while you are working, studying, researching or playing on your computer. Please download the desktop background that matches your computer's screen resolution:

2011 Calendars	e-Calendar Screenshot	1024x768 resolution	1200x800 resolution	1280x1024 resolution
Featured Artworks		download [1.5KB]	download [1.2MB]	download [1.9MB]

These e-Calendars are copyrighted.

Artwork Valuations

2009-03-13T01:35:26Z

Over the past two years Central Art has often been approached with requests to provide a market evaluation on a piece of Aboriginal art. In order to continue to provide a valued service to our clients, we have now established a relationship with Art Consultant and Valuer, Adrian Newstead and Central Art will now provide this referral service at no charge. Our reasons are:

We firmly believe that any evaluation should be done by a qualified, expert third party and that it would be unethical for an agent with a prior or future interest in a work of art to make an evaluation on behalf of a seller.
We want to ensure that the Aboriginal Art Market continues on a professional basis.
In my opinion Art consultant Adrian Newstead is one of the leading professionals in Aboriginal art and evaluations. Adrian is also one of a very few who are officially approved by the Australian Government to value under the Cultural Gift scheme. To achieve this he had to be recommended by his State Art Gallery.

For these reasons we are delighted that Adrian has agreed to form this association with Central Art. Contrary to popular belief, not all art goes up in value even art from very famous artists. Paintings vary greatly in quality and provenance and art works must be in perfect order to get a good resale price. While source provenance is important, the entire history of an artwork is vital in determining its financial value. How mush will an evaluation cost? The cost of an evaluation is determined by the type of evaluation required and the length of time it takes. A standard rate of $250 + GST per hour applies and many evaluations, especially those for single works of art, can be done in one hour. The more information the owner can provide the more cost efficient it is. What sort of evaluation do I need? Evaluations can take a variety of forms and your requirements will determine the price and type of evaluation. 1. Personal reasons. 2. To determine a propitious time to sell. 3. For your superannuation assets register. 4. Insurance purposes or Property Settlements. 5. Cultural Bequests. It is strongly recommended that Artwork valuations be updated no less than once every four years in order to maintain values at current market expectations or replacement values. What will the evaluation look like? Personal Evaluation: This may be the first step if you have a large collection or are just curious about your artwork. You will receive a signed letter on Adrian Newstead Art Consultant letterhead which will contain; Code, Artist, Title, Year of Work, Dimensions, Provenance, and Current Market Expectations. Insurance, Replacement or Property Settlement Valuation: This evaluation is more detailed and will be printed on official letterhead and signed by Adrian Newstead, certified Valuer of Australian Aboriginal Art. It will contain the following: 1. Image of the Work. 2. Artist. 3. Title. 4. Size. 5. Year Created. 6. Medium. 7. Primary Source. 8. Source Code. 9. Year Purchases. 10. Artists' Area/Language. 11. Description of the Work. 12. Condition. 13. Market Valuation. 14. Insurance Value. 15. Comments. Cultural Bequests: This is a more complicated valuation. Two valuations are required to bequest a work under this scheme and they must both come from a Government approved valued. The two valuers must come within 10% of each other for the valuation to be accepted. The valuation will include:

Donors Name and Recipients Institution.
Description of Item.
Condition.
Evidence of Authenticity and History of Ownership.
Published references to this object.
Detailed notes establishing and substantiating current market value.
Valuation and Date of Valuation.

Valuations under this scheme must be completed on official forms provided by the Federal Department of the Arts. All of the various valuations listed above are accompanied by a covering letter from Adrian Newstead Fine Art Consultancy and a standard disclaimer. How will this work? Send an email with:

A good image of the artwork (A JPEG under 1MB and not a TIF or PDF).
As many of the following specifications as possible in the body of the email: Title of work, artist, dimensions, materials, where and when purchased, invoice, a certificate of authenticity and your reasons for an evaluation.

The valuer will research both the primary and secondary markets, recent sales of similar classes of artwork by the artists through galleries and auction houses and his, and his staff's professional experience extending over 30 years with this class of material culture. In the absence of a Certificate of Authenticity, documentation that the work was purchased through a reputable gallery owner or a reputable auction house can confer an imprimatur and assist the valuer in establishing the provenance and genuineness of the work. You can expect a valuation certificate within two weeks. Proviso/Disclaimer: The valuation reflects the current market expectations. It should not be seen as a guarantee of future value, not is it in anyway an undertaking by the valuer to guarantee, purchase or sell the work assessed.

Sales Order by Fax

2009-02-18T03:56:02Z

We encourage you to order your artworks through our secure online shopping cart and checkout. If however, you would like to place a fax order, you can do so by printing and faxing the form below. You will need to include all relevant order details:

Billing address
Shipping address
Painting number/code
Artist name
Price and GST (if applicable)
Payment Details

Download the Fax Order Form. Please print, complete and fax all forms to 08 8952 1744 or international +61 8 8952 1744. We will contact you via email or telephone within 48 hours of your order. All fax communication is securely received by our office staff. If you have any queries, please don't hestitate to contact us.

Art.Trade Member

2009-01-24T16:59:14Z

Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store is an authorised and endorsed member of the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association (Art.Trade). Director Sabine Haider is a sitting board member elected in August 2008. 'Responsibility to the artists, the art and the community' - the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association is the national organisation for persons and organisations experienced in the business of indigenous art. The organisation operates to promote the ethical trade of indigenous art and to provide a forum where members can discuss issues relevant to the industry. - Art.Trade website As a member of Art.Trade, we proudly demonstrate and adhere to an ethical code of practice and art authenticity that supports Aboriginal artists and the Aboriginal art industry. For further information, visit the Art.Trade website or our Art Authenticity webpage.

International Customers

2008-12-17T17:58:20Z

Central Art takes pride in our fantastic customer service for all international customers. We respond to telephone, online and email enquiries in 24 hours but best of all, you can take advantage of the great exchange rates from the United Kingdom, United States, European Union and Asia. We offer the following additional benefits to all our international customers:

Orders accepted through the website, by phone or fax
Complimentary overseas shipping to anywhere in the world
Artworks exempt from Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Instant currency conversion service on checkout
Easy online purchasing process from anywhere in the world
Quick payment process with all authorised credit cards (AMEX, Diners, Visa, MasterCard and Bankcard)
Quick and reliable shipping and delivery service using Australia’s number one postal services, Australia Post and TNT Express.
Free international phone calls and chat service via Skype

As part of our international service, Sabine, as a qualified German language translator, can also provide specific Aboriginal Art advice to native German speakers. If you join our mailing list as a customer, you will also have privileged access to catalogue sales, extra discounts and online exhibitions via email.

Gift Cards

2008-12-11T18:19:36Z

Central Art Aboriginal Art Store now offers our customers the opportunity to make their gift or purchase even more special with our beautiful, exclusive artwork gift cards. The selection features artworks by:

Betty Mbijana
Harold Thomas
Kudditji Kngwarreye
Kathleen Petyarre
Evelyn Pultarra
Ronnie Tjampatjinpa
Abie Loy Petyarre
Anna Petyarre (featured right with her painting Pencil Yam Seed)

The cards are available to add to any order at checkout and some gift cards are personally signed by the artists. Browse our gallery of artwork gift cards before you select a painting to buy. Please note that these cards are blank inside. We now have available our 2009 Gift Card series, available separately or as a pack. Please contact us for more information regarding these.

Aboriginal Art Reproduction & Copyright

2008-12-04T02:23:33Z

Central Art is proud to present our online Aboriginal art store featuring artworks that are all photographed with high-quality resolution in studio lighting by professional photographers. We have had beautiful compliments from our customers over the years and we attribute our success to the detail and colour of each artwork, able to be accurately viewed by our customers through the quality photographs we present. To date, we have had our artwork images reproduced on products such as a cd for the German musical group Schoenherz & Fleer and one of our paintings purchased by Tourism Australia to headline their Aboriginal Art promotional campaign. Our artwork images are also currently being featured in the Top 200 Aboriginal Artists' artist reviews for the Aboriginal Art Directory. The Australian Copyright Act protects all artists from unauthorised copying by giving control over original works of art to the artist by law. However depending on the use proposed, Central Art can facilitate reproduction of works with the permission of the artist as we have developed close relationships over the years with many individual painters and craftspeople. We work closely with the Aboriginal Artists Agency Limited (AAA), a non-profit company established to encourage positive outcomes for artists in copyright administration. Please contact us directly to discuss any reproduction matters.

eCalendars 2009 and Desktop Backgrounds

2008-11-25T03:42:58Z

Central Art have designed a collection of beautiful 2009 e-Calendars for your computer's desktop background. The range includes four of our most exciting artists:

These backgrounds are free for you to download and enjoy while you are working, studying, researching or playing on your computer. Please download the desktop background that matches your computer's screen resolution:

2009 Calendars	e-Calendar Screenshot	1024x768 resolution	1280x800 resolution	1280x1024 resolution
Raymond Walters Japanangka		download [1.1MB]	download [1.3MB]	download [1.7MB]
George Tjungurrayi		download [1.2MB]	download [1.5MB]	download [1.9MB]
Kudditji Kngwarreye		download [754KB]	download [944KB]	download [1.1MB]
Malcolm Maloney Jagamarra		download [925KB]	download [1.1MB]	download [1.4MB]

These e-Calendars are copyrighted.

Referral Links - Link to Us

2008-07-22T17:58:54Z

Why link to us? Central Art Aboriginal Art Store provides wonderful Aboriginal art, Aboriginal culture archives, an Aboriginal symbols glossary, news, events, online exhibitions and spectacular images of Aboriginal artworks. Link your site to us to ensure your own visitors can enjoy this resource. How to link to us? Linking to Central Art Aboriginal Art Store is easy. We have a text links and a range of images in various sizes so you can choose the option that will work best for your site. Once you have decided which link you wish to use copy the code in the text box. Then paste the code into your page to create the link button. Guidelines to follow Do not modify image dimensions or the link url. You are welcome to place your own text next to the image or text link. From time to time, these images will be refreshed. Using the link code provided will ensure your site automatically receives these updates. Questions? If you have any questions about 'linking to the Central Art website' please contact us. Quick Link Central Art are the online Australian Aboriginal Art specialists. To replicate this link please use the following HTML code: Logo with text

Central Art are the online Australian Aboriginal Art specialists.

To replicate this link please use the following HTML code: