Australian aboriginal art has captured the world’s attention

This 1995 triptych by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, ‘Ochre Body Paint,’ sold for $19,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2022. Image courtesy of Abell Auction and LiveAuctioneers.
This 1995 triptych by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, ‘Ochre Body Paint,’ sold for $19,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2022. Image courtesy of Abell Auction and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Aboriginal art — a term typically used to describe works made by the indigenous people of Australia — takes several forms, all intriguing. They range from body paint and bark paintings to rock art; ochre paintings using organic pigments; textiles; wood carvings; and paintings on canvas, linen or wood. Paintings, in particular, have become one of the most desirable forms of Aboriginal art to collect and are widely represented in museums and fine collections around the world.

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