Australian Indigenous Artwork Debuts in Denver

First time the ancient artwork has left Australia

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:38pm

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style grid of a single, iconic Australian Indigenous ceremonial object, such as a carved wooden sculpture or natural pigment palette, rendered in a bold, neon color palette with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the modern pop art display of ancient cultural artifacts.The vibrant, pop art-inspired display of ancient Australian Indigenous artwork aims to immerse visitors in the rich cultural traditions and diverse perspectives of Indigenous Australians.Denver Today

An exhibit of Australian Indigenous artwork, titled "The Stars We Do Not See," is making its debut at the Denver Art Museum. This is the first time this artwork has ever left Australia, with pieces dating back more than 65,000 years and representing over 2,000 generations of shared cultural heritage. The exhibit features paintings on eucalyptus bark, neon light sculptures, and natural pigment works, offering visitors a rare chance to experience the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of Indigenous Australians.

Why it matters

This exhibit provides a unique opportunity for Denver-area residents and visitors to learn about and connect with the rich cultural traditions of Indigenous Australians, whose artwork has rarely been seen outside of its home country. It also highlights the parallels between the impacts of colonialism and racism experienced by Indigenous communities in both Australia and the United States.

The details

The artwork in "The Stars We Do Not See" focuses on the oldest living things from the land, sky, waters, living beings, ancestral knowledge, and spirituality of Australian Indigenous cultures. Many different artists contributed to the pieces, including paintings on eucalyptus bark and neon light sculptures, as well as works using natural pigments applied with homemade brushes made of human hair. In the early 1900s, a British-Australian biologist from the Arnhem Lands coastal regions was asked to create paintings on single sheets of eucalyptus bark, marking the first time the designs had been moved beyond cave walls, bark shelters, and ceremonial objects.

  • The exhibit opens to the public on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • The exhibit will run through July 26, 2026.

The players

Denver Art Museum

The museum hosting the first-ever exhibition of Australian Indigenous artwork outside of Australia.

John Lukovic

The Andrew W. Mellon curator and department head of native arts for the Denver Art Museum, who says the exhibit will help visitors connect with diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

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What they’re saying

“It's a way of helping our visitors connect with really diverse perspectives and lived experiences, but also to see some of the parallels that they may find between experiences here as impacts of colonialism and racism.”

— John Lukovic, Andrew W. Mellon curator and department head of native arts, Denver Art Museum

What’s next

The exhibit is not available for the public to see until Sunday, April 19, 2026, and it will run through July 26, 2026. Anyone under the age of 18 can see the exhibit for free.

The takeaway

This landmark exhibition of ancient Australian Indigenous artwork offers Denver residents and visitors a rare chance to experience the rich cultural traditions and diverse perspectives of Indigenous Australians, while also highlighting the shared impacts of colonialism and racism faced by Indigenous communities across the globe.