Tracks We Share: Contemporary Art of the Pilbara is a landmark exhibition of Aboriginal art from the Pilbara region opening at The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) on March 11, 2022.
Featuring over 200 works from more than 70 artists, the exhibition will highlight and celebrate the diverse art of the Pilbara region.
The exhibition is one of the outcomes from the multi-year project that has mapped the Pilbara’s Aboriginal art movement for the first time. It provides insight into the context and development of the region’s unique Aboriginal art, artists and art centres.
The exhibition is a collaboration between WA non-profit arts and cultural organisation FORM, AGWA and Aboriginal art centres; Cheeditha Art Group, Juluwarlu Art Group, Martumili Artists, Spinifex Hill Studio and Yinjaa-Barni Art, along with independent artists Katie West, Curtis Taylor and Jill Churnside.
Initiated by FORM in 2019, and supported by the Pilbara Development Commission, the Tracks We Share project includes the major AGWA exhibition, touring exhibitions, training and mentorships, and workshops for artists and their communities providing much needed economic, professional and cultural development opportunities.
Tracks We Share is supported by the McGowan Government’s Regional Exhibition Touring Boost (RETB) program to provide regional access to world class art. The RETB is supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. It encourages the social, cultural and economic growth of regional communities.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“This nationally and internationally significant exhibition not only highlights but also celebrates the incredible contemporary Aboriginal arts in the Pilbara region.
“The exhibition promotes and drives awareness of the immense cultural value of this North-West region of our State, showcasing WA’s extraordinary world-class artistic talent along with our natural and cultural riches.
“As Minister for Tourism and Culture and the Arts, I encourage you to visit the exhibition and consider making a trip to the amazing arts centres in the Pilbara.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The RETB is a terrific initiative that continues to support our regions, generating economic, social and cultural growth.
“Tracks We Share is helping Pilbara artists and art centres to reach their full potential through training and development opportunities, while bringing the region’s truly stunning art to the rest of Western Australia.”
