Meet the artists in The Black Canoe collection
By The Black Canoe · · 4 min read
The Black Canoe is committed to creating opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers. Walk through the gallery and you will see what that looks like in practice: works by established painters hang in the same space as newer work, and the program of exhibitions brings fresh artists through the door every few weeks. This post introduces the artists in our collection right now, the work of theirs you can see and buy, and the artists who have shown with us since we opened.
Molly Hunt
Molly Hunt's work has a big presence in our collection, and in our history. Her exhibition How we move in the dry opened at The Black Canoe on 01.08.26, and photographs from the opening night are on our gallery page and the exhibition page.
Her works are bold and full of colour. The image at the top of this post is Barramundi (1200 x 897mm, $5,000), a big blue fish set against a red patterned background with white stars. In the description that accompanies it, the work is:
Celebrating one of the Kimberley's most iconic fish and the culture surrounding it.
Another, Throw Net & Bait (600 x 897mm, $2,000), is described as:
Capturing the seasonal ritual of gathering bait from the river before fishing.
Molly Hunt works available now
- Barramundi, 1200 x 897mm, $5,000
- Throw Net & Bait, 600 x 897mm, $2,000
- Mighty Boab, 1200 x 900mm, $2,000
- Nanas Damper, 1800 x 900mm, $2,800
Molly Hunt works already sold
Molly's work has found plenty of new homes. Mullet Bait, King Brown, Grounded, Bush Turkey Rising, Cultural Burn and I just wanna Camp have all sold. They stay listed in the shop, marked "Sold", so you can see the full body of work. See every Molly Hunt work.
Major works by established painters
Alongside Molly's work, the gallery holds a group of major paintings by established artists. These are large works, and seeing them in person is the best way to appreciate their scale. Each is one of a kind.
Gloria Petyarre (c1942–2021)
Bush Medicine Leaves, 2000 x 1500mm, $20,000. View Gloria Petyarre's work.
George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi (c1947–)
Untitled, 1750 x 990mm, $20,000. View George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi's work.
Polly Ngale Nelson (c1940–2022)
Bush Plum, 1300 x 2050mm, $12,000. View Polly Ngale Nelson's work.
Bob Gibson Tjungurrayi
Untitled, 2000 x 1530mm, $10,000. View Bob Gibson Tjungurrayi's work.
Lily Kelly Napangardi (c1948–2017)
Sandhills, $10,000. Ask us for the dimensions of this work. View Lily Kelly Napangardi's work.
Kudditji Kngwarreye (c1928–2017)
My Country, 1400 x 1000mm, $5,000. View Kudditji Kngwarreye's work.
Thinking about scale
Sizes in our shop are listed in millimetres, and it is worth translating them before you fall in love with a wall. Bush Medicine Leaves, at 2000 x 1500mm, and Bob Gibson Tjungurrayi's Untitled, at 2000 x 1530mm, are each around two metres on the long side: works for a large living room, a stairwell, a boardroom or a foyer. Bush Plum, at 1300 x 2050mm, is just over two metres on its long side. My Country, at 1400 x 1000mm, and George Hairbrush Tjungurrayi's Untitled, at 1750 x 990mm, sit a little smaller but still command a wall.
A simple trick before you buy: mark the dimensions on your wall with painter's tape and live with the outline for a day or two. Then come and stand in front of the real thing at the gallery.
If you are considering one of these works, we are happy to talk you through it before you buy. Call 0406 499 888, email info@theblackcanoe.com.au, or send us a message. Our guide to buying Aboriginal art ethically lists the questions worth asking.
Jessica Johnson
Our current exhibition is BLAK LUB, a collection of old and new works by Sydney based Warumungu designer and artist, Jessica Johnson. The show runs from 24 October to 22 November 2026, with an opening at 6pm on Saturday 24 October. Colourful, layered and full of hearts, it is a joyful show to spend time with. Read our BLAK LUB feature for what to expect when you visit.
Artists who have shown at The Black Canoe
Since our first exhibition in August 2025, the program has kept moving. These are the artists and shows that have filled the room, newest first:
- Oracles of the Valley, 19 August 2026
- LSJ Private Collection, 2 August – 15 August 2026
- Molly Hunt, How we move in the dry, 01.08.26
- Matcha Social Club, 07.06.26
- Jessika Victória, Fuá, 30.05.26
- Faith McLeod, Land Sea & Sky, 09.05.26
- Jesse Walsh, Damn Girl, 04.04.26
- Ron Creevey, Dreaming, 07.03.26
- Murray Family, Dungala, 14.02.26
- Lorraine and Joe Byrnes, Love Eternal, 18.01.26
- Zac Carter, Gathabal, 11.12.25
- Robyn Jean, Moorditj, 08.11.25
- Kyle Wilkinsun, Sugar High, 11.10.25
- Sam Bowman, New Birthday, 13.09.25
- Lesley Carberry, Guided Through Country Embedded by Story, 31.08.25
Every one of these shows is part of what The Black Canoe is: a platform for diverse creative voices, with a strong focus on supporting First Nations artists alongside contemporary creatives. The full archive is on our exhibitions page.
Find the artist you are looking for
The artists page lists everyone with work in the collection, with a link to their works in the shop. Every piece is original and one of a kind: choose a piece, select "Buy this piece", pay on a secure payment page, and we will email you to arrange collection from the gallery or shipping.
Or come and meet the work in person at Shop 1, 1-3 Botany Rd, Waterloo, Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm, with a coffee from our menu in hand. If you would like to host an opening, launch or gathering surrounded by these works, see Book our space.
