Michelle Woody Minnapinni, Ngiya Murrakupupuni (My Country), 2024. Locally sourced earth pigments on linen, 120 x 90cm. Photo courtesy of the artist ©
From August 8–10, 2025, the celebrated Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) returns to Larrakia Country in Darwin, Australia—while also opening its virtual doors to audiences everywhere. This annual event is a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, design, and culture, offering an ethical, immersive shopping experience unlike any other.
The only national event of its kind, DAAF has become one of Australia’s most significant and internationally recognised arts gatherings. It creates a rare opportunity to connect directly with Art Centres, purchase artworks ethically, and meet artists face-to-face. Visitors can also learn firsthand about cultural heritage, traditional practices, and the stories behind the art through an engaging program of masterclasses, talks, and demonstrations.
For those unable to make the journey to the Top End and attend DAAF in person at the Darwin Convention Centre, DAAF Online 2025 offers the full experience virtually—free to access from 10 a.m. Friday, August 8, to 9 p.m. Sunday, August 10 (Australian Central Standard Time).
The largest event of its kind, DAAF Online connects art lovers, collectors, gallerists, and first-time buyers with over 44 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres through its online platform (and 79 Art Centres across the combined in-person and virtual program). Every purchase supports artists directly—100% of sales go back to the creators and their communities.
Binygurr Wirrpanda, Yalata, Etched Aluminium, 90 x 60 cm, 2024. Photo courtesy of Buku Larrŋgay Mulka ©
From the red sands of the Central Desert to the saltwater islands of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands), the fair showcases bold contemporary works grounded in over 65,000 years of culture. Explore the fine etchings of Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka in Arnhem Land, the ochre-rich canvases of Jilamara Arts from the Tiwi Islands, or the globally acclaimed works of Iwantja Arts—each piece carrying deep connections to Country, community, and cultural heritage.
Buying First Nations art through DAAF is more than a transaction—it’s a cultural exchange. As Adam Boyd of Moa Arts notes, it offers “a unique view of Country and the people that keep it alive.” Whether it’s the fire stories of Warlukurlangu Artists or vibrant, experimental works by emerging collectives, every acquisition supports Indigenous-led creativity and self-determined futures.
DAAF 2025 also highlights artists whose works are making an impact internationally:
Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre (Yirrkala, Arnhem Land) – Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala toured major U.S. museums from 2023–2025, the first major U.S. exhibition curated in partnership with Yolŋu leaders.
The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art – Opening October 18, 2025, at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, this historic cultural exchange features over 200 works by 130+ artists, marking the largest presentation of Indigenous Australian art ever staged internationally.
Jilamara Arts (Tiwi Islands) – In March 2025, Johnathon World Peace Bush debuted his UK solo exhibition at Frieze No. 9 Cork Street, London, reframing Tiwi ceremonial traditions in a striking contemporary context.
Warlukurlangu Artists (Yuendumu, Warlpiri Country) – Revisions: Made by the Warlpiri of Central Australia with Patrick Waterhouse toured the UK from July to October 2025, reclaiming cultural narratives by layering new works over colonial-era maps and archives.
Claire Summers, Executive Director of the DAAF Foundation, says:
“The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair returns this August, giving audiences the chance to experience and purchase work from more than 1,500 Indigenous artists and designers. We’re proud to provide a global stage and inspired to see the growing appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art since we began 19 years ago.”
Through DAAF Online, audiences anywhere in the world can explore, connect, and collect—supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists while contributing to strong, sustainable cultural futures.
