Australia’s longest-running Indigenous gallery, is rebranding as Art Leven under the continued directorship of Mirri Leven to broaden focus while continuing to support First Nations art.
Artists Neil Tomkins and Kitty Napanagka Simon.
July 25th, 2023
Cooee Art, Australia’s most enduring Indigenous gallery, is undertaking a substantial rebranding. The gallery in Sydney has been renamed Art Leven, introducing a new era under the direction of Mirri Leven, its longstanding owner.
The redefined gallery opens on 27 July with a pioneering exhibition curated by Gadigal artist Konstantina, otherwise known as Kate Constantine. Attendees to the Redfern venue, situated on Gadigal Country, will witness an opening exhibition centred around the concept of landscape painting and the complex portrayal of land and Country.
This inaugural exhibition is titled Country X Country, true to the gallery’s Indigenous roots. Curated by a Gadigal woman from the Eora nation, the exhibition displays works of non-Gadigal artists Neil Tompkins and Kitty Napanangka Simon, demonstrating the gallery’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
Art Leven will showcase pieces from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists. This diversified programme is intended to cultivate a space that surpasses the standard commercial relationship between a gallery and an artist, instead establishing a platform for open dialogue and mutual exchange.
Related: An exhibition on drawing at the Powerhouse
As evidence of this intent, Art Leven has already sponsored a painting workshop in the remote Northern Territory town of Lajamanu. During the workshop, Sydney-based artist Neil Ernest Tomkins collaborated with Warlpiri artist Kitty Napanangka Simon, creating art at Warnayaka Arts.
Regarding this new direction, Leven notes: “While project-based partnerships with non-Indigenous artists mark a new direction for the gallery, we remain strongly committed to promoting Indigenous art and culture… we aim to invite audiences of the wider Australian and Western art world into a more intimate and understanding appreciation of our First Nations artists, past and present.”
Leven also reflected on the origins of her relationship with Cooee Art and the Warlpiri community. She highlights the significance of her relationship with Simon: “Kitty is incredibly important to me, as an artist and friend… Kitty became the first artist I took on to represent as a fledgling co-owner and director of Cooee.”
In discussing the future of Art Leven, Leven shares her hopes for industry transparency: “In an industry with a sometimes-murky past, I hope that part of the dialogue we foster can focus on what an artist can and should expect of a gallery or representative.”
With Art Leven taking over the mantle from Cooee Art, the focus remains on ethical representation. The gallery seeks to create an intimate relationship with artists, a vision exemplified by Leven’s personal and professional bond with Simon — a relationship that led to Leven funding Simon’s sight-saving surgery in 2020.
Country x Country runs at Art Leven from 27 July to 26 August.
Art Leven (Cooee Art)
artleven.com
Photography
Courtesy of Art Leven
We think you might also like this comment piece by AJC Architects’ Andrew Fong on museum design.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Putting their money where their perfectly painted mouth is, MECCA diverted almost 4 tonnes of furniture from landfill during the recent renovation of its headquarters with the help of Living Edge’s Relive program.
Australia’s leading producer of solid-engineered oak flooring has recently launched a new suite of innovative resources to support creativity and ambition in the architecture and design community.
For Living Edge, B-Corp certification was the next appropriate step in a long journey focused on building a truly sustainable and socially responsible business. In 2023 they achieved certification at their first pass, giving customers a new level of environmental assurance and the company an important milestone to celebrate across two decades of staff-led, sector-leading sustainability practices.
Explore the captivating realm of molo, the world-renowned design studio led by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen. molo’s acclaimed soft collection celebrates a unique fusion of art, design, and architecture and – crucially – sustainability.
As Sydney Design Week wraps up for 2023, Timothy Alouani-Roby spoke with creative director, Keinton Butler, about the ideas underpinning the theme of Amodern.
Urban renewal which opens a dialogue from the past to the present; Melbourne’s Western CBD is on track for complete revitalisation.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Explore the captivating realm of molo, the world-renowned design studio led by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen. molo’s acclaimed soft collection celebrates a unique fusion of art, design, and architecture and – crucially – sustainability.
The new Melbourne headquarters of Holder East at 170 Queen Street offers a unique blend of tranquillity and sophistication in the CBD. Designed by Fender Katsalidis, the office aims to be a calm sanctuary amid the urban hustle.