D'Lan Contemporary will present 'Shaping The Landscape: Spirit Figures From Northern Australia', an exhibition showcasing 31 figurative sculptures from The Martin Rae Collection.
The collection is a private New York-based collection of Australian First Nations art.
The exhibition, now open, will run until 14 March at the gallery's East 73rd Street location in New York, marking the first time it's been exhibited in its entirety.
Spanning more than five decades of collecting, it brings together sculptures from three major Northern Australian art regions: the Tiwi Islands, western Arnhem Land, and north-east Arnhem Land.
The collector, born in New York, developed a passion for Australian First Nations art after marrying his Australian wife in the 1960s.
Their first purchase, a woomera (spear-thrower), ignited a lifelong commitment to collecting.
The collector reflected on his collection.
"These sculptures are more than just art objects; they are vessels of cultural significance, carrying the stories and spirits of generations," he said.
"It's an honor to share them with the world."
Featured Artists
Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara: A master Tiwi sculptor and ceremonial leader, his work stems from the Pukumani funeral tradition, where poles and mourning figures symbolise the journey to the afterlife.
His sculptures introduced Tiwi art to mainstream audiences and remain sought after by collectors.
Enraeld Djulabinyanna Munkara, Purrukuparli circa 1955. (Image: D'Lan Contemporary)
Don Hocking Pudjamali: A senior member of the Mandimbula group from Melville Island's southern coast.
His rare sculpture, Untitled (Ceremonial Female Figure) (c. 1966), reflects the artistic independence and expression of his community.
Kitty Kantilla Kutuwulumi Purawarrumpatu: Known for blending traditional ceremonial forms with contemporary abstraction, her sculpture Purrukaparli, Bima and Taparra (c. 1980) represents three ancestral creator beings central to Tiwi life.
Kitty Kantilla, Untitled circa 1980. (Image: D'Lan Contemporary)
Muŋgurrawuy Yunupiŋu: A Yolŋu artist and ceremonial leader of the Gumatj clan in north-east Arnhem Land, his 1959 work Lanydjung depicts a Yirritja creator being adorned with ceremonial designs and lorikeet feathers.
Mick Aruni Illortamini: A Tiwi artist.
One highlight is Untitled (Female Ceremonial Figure) which toured Canada as part of the Art of Aboriginal Australia exhibition (1974–1976), the first major international Aboriginal art exhibition following the establishment of the Aboriginal Arts Board in 1973.
The figurative sculptures of Northern Australia have long been of interest to collectors and institutions.
Committed to ethical practices, the gallery contributes 30% of its net profits to First Nations artists and their communities, supporting a sustainable marketplace for this vital segment of Australian art.