One of the most important annual exhibitions of Australian First Nations art opens in New York this May — and you're invited.

D Lan Galleries presents the opening of SIGNIFICANT 2026, the gallery's flagship annual exhibition and the finest secondary market presentation of Australian First Nations art. Now in its second decade, the exhibition opens simultaneously at D Lan's galleries in Melbourne, Sydney, and New York, offering collectors rare access to museum-quality paintings and sculptures.

This year's exhibition runs from May 14 to June 27, 2026, and the opening event in New York will be held on Thursday, May 14, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

What's on Show

The foundation of this year's exhibition is a remarkable selection of early Papunya paintings from the seminal 1971–72 period — widely regarded as the genesis of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement. Artists represented from this pivotal moment include Kaapa Mbitjana Tjampitjinpa, Johnny Warangula Tjupurrula, and Uta Uta Tjangala.

A standout feature of the exhibition is a large-scale installation of 45 individual drawings and paintings by Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu. The work, Djorra 2014–15, was the centerpiece of the artist's survey exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in 2020.

Also on view are historic works by Rover Thomas, Queenie McKenzie, Albert Namatjira, Emily Kam Kngwarray, and Shorty Lungkata Tjungurrayi, alongside major works by Sally Gabori, Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, Paddy Bedford, Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu, Timo Hogan, Patju Presley, and Keith Wikmunea — the latter making his first appearance in SIGNIFICANT with Theewith | My White Cockatoo Totem 2025.

The Australian community in New York has a deep appreciation for First Nations art, and D Lan Galleries has established itself as one of the most important platforms for bringing this work to international audiences. SIGNIFICANT is a rare opportunity to see museum-quality pieces in person — including works from collections that haven't been publicly accessible in decades. Whether you're a serious collector or simply want to spend an evening with extraordinary art, this is one to put in the diary.

RSVP

To attend the opening event, please register.

For more information, visit dlangalleries.com.