Ethics, Authenticity and Guide to Buying Aboriginal Art
Our Commitment: The Kate Owen Gallery Standard
At Kate Owen Gallery, we celebrate Aboriginal art not only for its beauty but for the story, craft, and heritage each piece embodies. Every work in our collection is carefully curated to transform your home while honouring the connection between the viewer, the artist, and the ancient stories of the Australian landscape. To truly "buy with the heart," you must first have total peace of mind.
A Legacy of Expertise
Our gallery is built on decades of deep-rooted relationships and leadership within the Indigenous arts sector. Geoff Henderson served on the Board of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA) for 13 years, including four years as President, helping shape the standards of the industry. Today, Jack Henderson continues this legacy, serving on the Board since 2024. This experience ensures that when you acquire a work from us, you are gaining not only an artwork, but the assurance of provenance, quality, and the Cultural Authority of the artist.
The Guarantee of Integrity
Each artwork in our collection is hand-selected for its aesthetic brilliance and cultural significance. To protect your investment and respect the artist’s legacy, we ensure:
Verified Provenance: Every work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Direct Sourcing: We acquire and consign works from independent artists, community-run art centres, and authorised agents.
Cultural Respect: Stories and techniques are shared with the utmost regard for cultural protocols, keeping the artist’s voice central and ensuring they have the Cultural Authority to share the Dreaming represented.
Transparency in the Arts (Our 'Money Story')
We know that our collectors value the health of the Aboriginal art community as much as we do. We believe transparency should be a standard of excellence, not a marketing tactic. How we support our artists:
Fair Exchange: For artworks consigned directly to us, the artist receives 50% of the sale proceeds, paid promptly at the start of each month for every sale.
The Gallery’s Investment: The majority of our 50% commission is reinvested into the artist’s legacy. We cover all costs for exhibitions, digital, local & global marketing, media relations, insurance and storage costs, professional stretching, and entries into major art prizes. We take on the business of art, so the artist can focus on the creation of it.
Ongoing Royalties: We are proud supporters of the Resale Royalty Scheme, ensuring artists receive a 5% royalty on every eligible sale.
Buying Art
Aboriginal Art – it is inspirational, provocative and incredibly beautiful. For many it is also an asset. It can be a daunting experience entering in to the art market and taking that almighty ‘leap of faith’ and invest in an artwork!
That’s why we’ve created this page. We believe everyone should enjoy exceptional, ethical art and this ‘insider’s perspective’ should help answer your questions on what to look for when buying an Aboriginal work of Art. This advice comes from the staff at Kate Owen Gallery, who have a combined total of 50+ years in the art consultancy business.
When it comes to investing in art, these are the key points of advice we make:
- Always invest confidently in art, because an artwork will never be bankrupt
- Value is found not only in the artist, but in the quality of a given work. Always buy the best you can afford.
- If you love it, buy it. If you chose well, one day you may be able to sell it for a profit. And if you chose very well, you won’t want to.
When it comes to the Indigenous Australian art market,
there are some other important points you need to consider
Provenance
The documentation that accompanies an artwork is known as its ‘provenance’ and is essential if an artworks’ authenticity ever needs to be checked. They are the documents that show the chronology of the ownership, custody and/or location of an artwork. Good provenance leaves no doubt that a work of art is genuine.
Provenance can take many forms – it could be:
- a signed certificate or statement of authenticity from a respected authority,
- an exhibition or gallery sticker attached to the art,
- an original gallery sales receipt,
- an appraisal from a recognised authority or expert on the artist, and
- images of the artist painting the artwork.
Unscrupulous sellers know the value of provenance and have become very savvy at manufacturing or fabricating provenance for their art in order to fool inexperienced buyers. Make Sure Your Certificate Of Authenticity Is Worth the Paper It’s Printed On!
Quality
We all know the saying ‘quality over quantity’ – but how does that relate to Aboriginal Art?
Materials
There is a big difference between low-grade and high-quality art materials; an artwork painted on poor quality cotton canvas has a high risk of turning brittle and crackling over time, whereas a material like Belgian Linen is considered one of the finest canvas materials you can use for an artwork. It is stronger, flexible and more durable than cotton canvas, and when primed can protect the paint from any possible damage coming through the back of the canvas. Hey, Michelangelo painted on Belgian Linen and they certainly have lasted the test of time!
Execution
Just as artists have those iconic works that are seen as the finest examples of their oeuvre, so too do they have those works that are less resolved. Knowing what a quality example of an artists’ work is can take a certain amount of expertise, or all you need a very good art adviser – someone who is not only knowledgeable, but someone who you feel you can trust and give you good advice.
Strict quality control is something that Kate Owen Gallery prides itself on and something that we work very hard to deliver. The outcome is a carefully curated offering of quality Aboriginal art that provides our clients with a lifetime of enjoyment.
Buyer Beware!
If the offer sounds too good to be true, chances are it probably is!
Confused about a piece you've seen elsewhere? Contact our consultants for an expert opinion.
Related Topics:
Aboriginal Community Art Centres
Aboriginal Art and Culture