There are four art galleries in the Araluen Centre. They feature an exciting program of exhibitions including Aboriginal art, particularly from the central desert region, and contemporary art by Northern Territorian and other Australian artists.
Located in one of these galleries is the Albert Namatjira Gallery exhibiting the Territory’s largest collection of original painting by this the famous Aboriginal artist. The gallery also features work by Namatjira’s teacher, Rex Battarbee, and others of the “Hermannsburg School”. This image above is one of Albert Namatjira painting’s.
The exhibition also includes a display of the Papunya Community School Collection, a group of 14 paintings from the early 1970’s. At this time, a stylistic change occurred in Central Australia, when acrylic paintings of a more symbolic nature emerged. The designs of these new works were more connected to traditional cultural practices rather than the realistic framing of local landscape in the watercolour tradition, and form the basis of a practice that continues today.
The Papunya School Collection contains works by many celebrated artists, including Long Jack Phillipus, who remains a member of the Papunya Community School Council.
The Araluen Galleries also stage major travelling exhibitions on a regular basis.
The Alice Springs Cultural Precinct is also the annual host venue for Desert Mob, the most comprehensive national exhibition documenting and presenting the current activities of Central Australian Aboriginal art centres.
