The third edition of the National Gallery of Australia's National Indigenous Art Triennial is dedicated to showcasing the diversity and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practice in Australia, over 30 artists that are predominantly mid-career.
Artists working with natural materials and traditional methods, such as Tasmanian Lola Greeno, Tiwi Islander Pedro Wonaeamirri, and South Australian Yvonne Koolmatrie, sit alongside painters Judy Watson, Daniel Boyd and Rusty Peters; photomedia artists Brenda L. Croft and Julie Gough sit alongside sculptural artists such as Ken Thaiday Sr and Yhonnie Scarce, and textile/installation artists Karla Dickens and Vicki West.
The line-up is expansive when it comes to East Coast artists who use a wide range of disciplines to highlight issues of colonialism and racism, including Megan Cope, Brook Andrew, Tony Albert, Archie Moore, Dale Harding and Jonathan Jones.
Most of the works exhibition in Defying Empire come from the collections of the artists themselves, and from the NGA Collection.
The full line-up for Defying Empire is: Tony Albert, Brook Andrew, Sebastian Arrow, Daniel Boyd, Maree Clarke, Megan Cope, Brenda L. Croft, Karla Dickens, Blak Douglas, Fiona Foley, Julie Gough, Lola Greeno, Dale Harding, Sandra Hill, Jonathan Jones, Ray Ken, Yvonne Koolmatrie, Nonggirrnga Marawili, Archie Moore, Laurie Nona, Rusty Peters, Reko Rennie, Brian Robinson, Yhonnie Scarce, Ken Thaiday Sr, Judy Watson, Vicki West, Jason Wing, Pedro Wonaeamirri and Raymond Zada.