Now in its 17th year, Revealed: New and Emerging WA Aboriginal Artists is one of the most exciting visual art events in Perth/Boorloo. From its beginnings in 2008 at Gallery Central in Northbridge to its move to the Fremantle Arts Centre in Walyalup in 2016, the successive iterations of this annual celebratory exhibition of Aboriginal artists from across the state have a community spirit and passion that grows each year. This year, for the first time, it is exhibited at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

This year is also the first time that Revealed has a dedicated role for a curator. Zali Morgan, Whadjuk Ballardong & Wilman Noongar woman, and one of the most promising young artists and curators in Australia, has stepped into that role. She approached this program with hands-on experience with Revealed, having been an exhibiting artist in the past. In its 17-year history, Revealed has had only one other Aboriginal curator. Glenn Iseger-Pilkington curated it previously from within his role as the curator of the Fremantle Arts Centre from 2021 to 2023. “It’s really exciting and overwhelming to step into the role,” Morgan says, “Revealed is such a beast.”

It is an exhibition that has grown from many hands, both Indigenous and settler, and is becoming more Indigenous-led. The Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub WA (AACHWA) was established as a project department with Country Arts WA (now Regional Arts WA), taking over custodianship of Revealed in 2023, which it now manages under a multi-year contract. “Not having to apply for the tender each year is going to allow more time for curators and artists to put together a better exhibition,” Morgan notes. “Revealed is going to continue to grow.”

There are 85 artists featured in this year’s program, of which 47 are showing for the first time, and 17 are independent artists: the largest number of Revealed artists and of independent artists so far. Works are selected by an artist peer panel appointed by AACHWA, and Morgan stresses the diversity of practices across this year’s program. The exhibition features renowned established artists exploring new techniques, such as Kaye Warrie experimenting with glass, and Amanda Bell, known for her light sculptures, exhibiting painting. An important part of Revealed involves connecting established artists exploring new practices, with emerging artists.

The exhibition includes a number of collaborative and intergenerational works. This year there are five collaborative works from the Yamatji Art group, while Sarah Landro’s organisation Camera Story delivered a series of photographic workshops for young people which resulted in a standout series of 20 photographs from Juluwarlu Aboriginal Group.

Revealed is a celebration, but it is also a space for empowerment, connection, and critical reflection.

Opening night featured the Middar dancers, and sets from emerging DJs. Throughout the weekend there were artist talks, art workshops, and a panel discussion on international and national opportunities for Aboriginal artists. AACHWA also runs an arts worker and emerging curator program throughout the exhibition. It is these connections between generations, art forms, and levels of experience that grow Revealed each year.

On 12 April, the Revealed Art Market featured 35 stalls and 20 remote Aboriginal Art centres, the largest iteration of the market yet, co-produced by the WA Museum Boola Bardip and AACHWA. While for some there might be a conflict between the nature of art and that of a market commodity, at Revealed this remains deeply, steadfastly, and plainly political. A financial relationship is a political one, and at Revealed Art Market Aboriginal centres have the opportunity to speak directly to each other, to supporters, and to situate their work within the wider political context.

Revealed began in 2008, the year of the federal apology to the Stolen Generations, as a state government initiative to financially support Aboriginal arts centres. Now, in a post-referendum context, with no voice to parliament, and a crisis of incarceration of young Aboriginal children in this state, Revealed is becoming increasingly community-led, and larger than its sum, an exhibition of exciting art, an art market, a meeting place of young and old, of settler and First Nations.

“Across Australia it’s hard to get young people involved in art centres,” explains Morgan, “which is why workshops for young people are important … Young people, when given the opportunity, will make work about the importance of their relationship to Country, and in a post-referendum landscape where Country is still being questioned, this is so important.”

Revealed: New and Emerging
WA Aboriginal Artists
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
(Perth/Boorloo WA)
On now—15 June

This article was originally published in the May/June 2025 print edition of Art Guide Australia.