How is Aboriginal art authenticated at Art by Farquhar?

Every painting sold at Art by Farquhar comes with a Certificate of Authenticity documenting the artist, their community, the story behind the work, and provenance details. Art by Farquhar is a proud member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA), which binds members to a strict code of conduct ensuring artists are treated fairly, transparently and with respect.

Where do Art by Farquhar's artists come from?

Art by Farquhar works directly with artists and their families from two of Australia's most significant Indigenous art regions: the Central Desert of the Northern Territory, including communities such as Willowra and Yuendumu; and the APY Lands of South Australia, home to artists from Ernabella (Pukatja), Watarru and surrounding homelands. The gallery has built direct relationships with artists over many years.

Can I buy Aboriginal art online from Art by Farquhar?

Yes. Art by Farquhar's full collection is available to purchase online at farquhar.art, with shipping available Australia-wide and internationally. Paintings can be purchased as unstretched canvas or stretched and ready to hang (stretching available for Adelaide customers). The gallery is also open in person at 1070 South Road, Edwardstown, South Australia.

What is the APY Lands and why is the art significant?

The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands is an Aboriginal-owned area of approximately 103,000 square kilometres in the far north-west of South Australia. Artists from the APY Lands paint stories passed down through their families — Dreaming stories that connect people to their country, culture and ancestors. Art by Farquhar works closely with APY Lands artists including Janice Stanley, Rhoda Tjitayi, Susan Tjitayi and Renae Nakamarra Nelson.

How much does Aboriginal art cost at Art by Farquhar?

Art by Farquhar's collection ranges from small works under $500 through to major statement pieces over $10,000. Pricing reflects canvas size, artist reputation, complexity of the work and cultural significance. The gallery does not discount — prices reflect the genuine value of each work and the fair payment made directly to artists.

What is the Mamungari or Spirit Woman Dreaming?

Mamungari (also called Mamungari-Nya) is a creation story from the APY Lands describing Spirit Women travelling across country. It is a story passed down through family lineage and belongs to specific custodians. At Art by Farquhar, Renae Nakamarra Nelson — granddaughter of celebrated Papunya Tula artist Michael Jagamarra Nelson — paints the Mamungari story taught to her by her grandmother Manyitjanu Lennon.

What is the Pantu or Salt Lake story painted by Janice Stanley?

Pantu is the Pitjantjatjara word for salt lake. Janice Stanley, a third-generation artist from Ernabella in the APY Lands, paints the salt lakes near Mt Connor as part of the Seven Sisters creation story. Her distinctive contemporary style depicts these ancient lakes from a bird's eye view, using flowing lines and vibrant colour to capture the shimmering desert landscape.

What is the Piltati Tjukurpa story painted by Rhoda Tjitayi?

Piltati Tjukurpa is an ancestral creation story belonging to the Tjitayi family from Pukatja in the APY Lands. The story follows two sisters, Wanyinta and Alartjatjarra, who travelled Piltati with their husbands hunting and gathering food. Rhoda Tjitayi, born 1969, paints this story passed down from her grandmother. Rhoda's work is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Does Art by Farquhar offer art rental or consulting?

Yes. Art by Farquhar offers an art rental service for businesses and individuals in Adelaide looking to display original Aboriginal art in their space. The gallery also provides no-obligation art consultation for those looking to select works for home or commercial interiors. Contact the gallery at farquhar.art for more information.

Is Art by Farquhar an ethical Aboriginal art gallery?

Art by Farquhar is a member of the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia (AAAA), the national industry body committed to ethical and fair trade practices in Aboriginal art. The gallery works directly with artists and their families, ensures fair payment, and provides full provenance documentation with every work. The gallery does not source art from third parties or secondary markets.

How to Buy Authentic Aboriginal Art

Buying authentic Aboriginal art is one of the most meaningful purchases a collector can make. Every original painting is a cultural document - a record of Dreaming stories, country and ancestral knowledge that belongs to a specific artist, family and community. Buying well means buying with understanding.

What authentic Aboriginal art means

Authenticity in Aboriginal art means three things: the work was made by an Aboriginal person, that person had the cultural right to paint the story depicted, and it was sold with appropriate documentation and fair dealing.

Cultural right matters as much as identity. Aboriginal Dreaming stories belong to specific families and language groups. A reputable gallery will document not just who made the work but their connection to the story - through family, country and cultural inheritance. This is what separates a painting with genuine depth from one that is simply hand-painted.

What to expect from a reputable gallery

When you buy through a reputable gallery, the important questions are already answered for you - who the artist is, where they are from, what they paint and their connection to the stories they depict. At Art by Farquhar we maintain direct relationships with our artists and their families, and every work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity as a matter of course.

Certificates of authenticity

A Certificate of Authenticity is a standard document in the Aboriginal art market. It should include the artist's full name, date of birth and community, the title of the work, the Dreaming story depicted, the medium and dimensions, and the date of sale. It should be traceable back to the source.

At Art by Farquhar, every original painting comes with a Certificate of Authenticity documenting the artist, their country and their connection to the story. We are members of the Australian Aboriginal Art Association, bound by its code of conduct covering fair pay to artists and transparent provenance.

Things to watch for

Works with no artist name or community. Very low prices for claimed originals - genuine hand-painted canvases by skilled artists have real value. Works described as "Aboriginal style" or "inspired by" Aboriginal art. Canvas prints or reproductions presented as originals. A 2018 Senate inquiry found inauthentic products were widespread in some tourist market segments - the difference between a genuine Western Desert painting and a mass-produced imitation matters culturally and financially.

Building your understanding

The more you understand the art, the better you will buy. Learning about the Dreaming, the regional traditions of the Western Desert and APY Lands, and the specific artists whose work draws you will help you build a collection with lasting meaning and value.

Our Dot Painting page explains the history and symbolism behind the most recognised style in Aboriginal art. Our Papunya Tula page covers the origins of the contemporary movement. Our APY Lands page introduces the artists and country we work most closely with.

Aboriginal art as a long-term holding

Original paintings by significant artists have appreciated substantially over time. Works by artists including Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Rover Thomas and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri have achieved strong results at major auction houses. Scarcity, cultural significance and growing international recognition underpin the long-term market. Collectors who understand their collections - who can speak to the stories and the artists - build the most enduring holdings.

Buying at Art by Farquhar

Art by Farquhar is a specialist gallery for original Aboriginal paintings from the Central Desert of the Northern Territory and the APY Lands of South Australia. We work directly with artists and their families. Every work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and full provenance documentation. We ship worldwide.

Our gallery is at 1070 South Road, Edwardstown SA, open Monday to Friday 9:30am-4:30pm, Saturday 10am-1pm and Sunday 12pm-3pm.

Browse the collection or contact us at sales@farquhar.art with any questions.