ADC x National Indigenous Art Fair x Curatorial+Co.
ADC CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Cahill asked Sarah Martin, General Manager of the National Indigenous Art Fair and Sophie Vander, Director of Curatorial+Co., a few questions about this collaboration with NIAF.
Lisa: Sarah, the National Indigenous Art Fair has been going for five years here in Sydney. I think it’s an incredibly important event bringing the work of artists from across Australia to Sydney for people to meet the artists and understand a bit more about their stories of Country through their artwork. What are the highlights we will see at the 2025 Fair?
Sarah: NIAF 2025 will feature more than 31 remote art centres (up from 21 last year) and almost 100 artists from across the country. Visitors can purchase original artworks, textiles, fashion, ceramics, homewares, jewellery and more — all created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists using techniques and materials grounded in culture and Country.
A diverse group of extraordinary artists will also feature at this year’s Fair, offering unique perspectives from across Australia and Straits.
What makes the Art Fair so special is the chance for people in Sydney to meet artists from some of the most remote parts of the country and hear the stories behind their work.
Held during the opening weekend of NAIDOC Week, the 2025 Fair celebrates this year’s theme — The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy — with a dynamic public program featuring live music, traditional dance, weaving circles, bush food tastings, and a new Shop at the Runway fashion and Flash Mob show highlighting wearable art from NSW and remote designers from across Australia. Every artist at NIAF is carrying knowledge and sharing that with the next generation as well as visitors to the Art Fair. That's what makes it so special.
National Indigenous Art Fair, 2024. Photo: Paul McMillan.
Lisa: At Australian Design Centre we held an exhibition last year to coincide with NIAF and this year we’ll be presenting a bigger exhibition. Curated by Miah Madden with NIAF support, this exhibition showcases object based work by some of the Art Centres coming to the Fair. Sophie, across William Street you are also taking part this year by presenting a similar exhibition of paintings and works on paper curated by Nioka Lowe-Brennan. What can people see in this exhibition?
Sophie: Curatorial+Co. is proud to be working with NIAF to bring together a special exhibition that amplifies the voices of emerging First Nation’s talent – a mission that is particularly poignant within the context of this year’s NAIDOC Week theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. The exhibition is curated by emerging Dunghutti/Gomeroi curator Nioka Lowe-Brennan, with the support of NIAF. It’s been an honour to work alongside First Nations voices throughout every stage of the process.
Among the standout works is a series of monochromatic bark paintings by Simone Namunjdja of Maningrida Arts in the Northern Territory, who is part of the next generation of young Kuninjku artists. In addition, we are delighted to showcase a selection of wall-based artworks from a number of participating Art Centres across the country. The exhibition highlights artists working across a diverse range of materials including stringybark, woven fibres, repurposed steel, linen, and paper. This will be an exhibition that celebrates the remarkable creative talent of First Nations artists, and we’re very proud to be part of that story.
Seymour Wulida, Simone Namunjdja, Paul Nabulumo Namarinjmak, Deborah Yulidjirri, Simone Namunjdja. COTA.
To find out more, please visit the below:
Threads: Lore and Lineage, Australian Design Centre 22 May to 4 July 2025