Sally Gabori (circa 1924 – February 11, 2015), originally named Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda, was an Indigenous artist from Queensland, Australia, belonging to the Kaiadilt people. She began painting at the age of 81 and created over 2,000 works during the subsequent decade. Her works are known for their abstract style and vibrant colors, primarily depicting the landscapes and cultural heritage of her homeland.
In July 2022, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in France hosted her first solo exhibition in the country, showcasing 30 pieces, including several large-scale works, borrowed from major Australian museums. The exhibition aimed to provide audiences with a deeper understanding of this extraordinary artist’s unique and colorful creations, as she is considered one of the most significant Australian artists of the past decade.
The exhibition catalog featured not only the displayed works but also other paintings by Gabori, offering a comprehensive exploration of her art, deeply rooted in the history of the Kaiadilt people. The catalog included contributions from Kaiadilt culture expert Nicholas Evans and Indigenous art curators Judith Ryan and Bruce McLean. These essays provide insights into Gabori’s story, the power of her art, and the profound cultural legacy she left behind, viewed through the lens of tradition and artistic practice.
In July 2022, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain will present the first exhibition of the work of Australian Indigenous artist Sally Gabori in France. Sally Gabori started painting at the age of 81 and produced over 3,000 paintings over the 10 years that her career lasted. Through a selection of thirty paintings, including remarkable large format works that punctuated her artistic output, and thanks to exceptional artwork loans from major Australian museums, the exhibition invites to discover the singular and colorful work of this extraordinary painter, who is one of the leading Australian artists of the last decade.
Gathering the works of the exhibition alongside other paintings by the artist, the exhibition catalogue invites to further discover Sally Gabori’s work, deeply rooted in the history of her people, the Kaiadilt, and attesting to an extraordinary pictorial modernity. Contributions by Nicholas Evans- specialist of the Kaiadilt culture and close to Sally Gabori’s family; Judith Ryan and Bruce McLean - curators of Indigenous - put in perspective traditions and artistic practices to tell the story of Sally Gabori, the strength of her art, and the substantial cultural legacy she left.