Of This Earth: Transforming Culture and Country through First Nations Ceramics highlights cultural continuity and contemporary artistic expression through works of art drawn from the National Collection. The exhibition features over thirty key works of art by twenty-eight significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists; including Thancoupie (Dhaynagwidh/Thaynakwith people), Billy Bain (Dharug people), Nicole Foreshew (Wiradjuri people) and Janet Fieldhouse (Kalaw Lagaw Ya/Meriam Mir peoples). Showcasing the diverse techniques, narratives, and innovations of this constant and evolving medium, Of This Earth celebrates the breadth of First Nations ceramic practice across Australia.
Archaeological evidence reveals the cultural practice First Nations people had with clay centuries ago, with this exhibition highlighting the contemporary affinity artists have to this medium today. These works continue to share stories about Culture, Country, Community, Ceremony, Ancestors, everyday life and imagination.
Curated by Tina Baum, Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples), Head Curator, First Nations Art, National Gallery of Australia and Grace Currey, (Barkindji/Kunja peoples), Curatorial Assistant, First Nations Art, National Gallery of Australia.
Of This Earth: Transforming culture and Country through First Nations ceramics is a National Gallery Touring Exhibition supported by The Australian Government through Visions of Australia.
Image: Sean MILLER, Gamilaroi Peoples, How Waan turned Black 2023, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2025 © Sean Miller
Cairns Art Gallery, Public Curators Building
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri // 9:00am–5:00pm
Sat // 10:00am–5:00pm
Sun // 10:00am–2:00pm
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