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On a continent first settled by maritime peoples roughly 50,000 years ago, Australia’s aboriginal peoples still practice one of the world’s oldest continuous artistic traditions. Australian rock art is some of the most spectacular in the world. 

Today these ancient artistic traditions live on in a variety of media and motifs, including the polychrome bark paintings of Arnhem Land—imbued with both myth and mystery. For many years, the traditional arts of the Australian Aboriginal people were of interest primarily as anthropological or ethnographic curiosities. 

In the 1960s, however, these remarkable bark paintings featuring natural pigments applied to flattened eucalyptus bark panels captured the imagination of international collectors and curators. These beautiful works are now found in the finest art museums and private collections around the world. The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is proud to have 23 Aboriginal bark paintings in its global ethnographic collections, all of which are depicted in this web gallery of photos by Steve Wilkinson. These wonderful artworks were gifts from Jane and Robert Gehring, Hayasdan Wallace, and Ashley Foster.  Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.

Bird, snake, lizards, and fish, Yirrkalla, Arnhem Land 30.5" x 17.75", Cat. No. 6-36

Cat. #6-36
Bird, snake, lizards, and fish, Yirrkalla, Arnhem Land 30.5" x 17.75"

Crocodile in x-ray, by Naguljilmi Oenpelli, Arnhem Land 26.5" x 14.25", Cat. No. 6-31

Cat. #6-31
Crocodile in x-ray, by Naguljilmi Oenpelli, Arnhem Land 26.5" x 14.25"

Two turtles and two echidnas, Gunwinggu Tribe, Kroken Island, West Arnhem Land 26.25" x 13.75", Cat. No. 6-32

Cat. #6-32
Two turtles and two echidnas, Gunwinggu Tribe, Kroken Island, West Arnhem Land 26.25" x 13.75"

Geometric pattern by Dick Nulmarmar Ganalbingu Tribe Old Arafura Area 28" x 10.25", Cat. No. 6-33

Cat. #6-33
Geometric pattern by Dick Nulmarmar Ganalbingu Tribe Old Arafura Area 28" x 10.25"

Wuyal - spirit men and rock wallabies, Yirrkalla 24" x 8", Cat. No. 6-34

Cat. #6-34
Wuyal - spirit men and rock wallabies, Yirrkalla 24" x 8"

Snakes and crocodiles, Yirrkalla or Miningimbi, Northeast Arnhem Land 20" x 10.5", Cat. No. 6-35

Cat. #6-35
Snakes and crocodiles, Yirrkalla or Miningimbi, Northeast Arnhem Land 20" x 10.5"

Geometric pattern, Milingimbi 26" x 15.25", Cat. No. 6-37

Cat. #6-37
Geometric pattern, Milingimbi 26" x 15.25"

Wawilak sisters story by Lipundji Milingimbi Island, Crocodile Isle North Arnhem Land 21.75" x 11", Cat. No. 6-38

Cat. #6-38
Wawilak sisters story by Lipundji Milingimbi Island, Crocodile Isle, North Arnhem Land 21.75" x 11"

Four human figures and a kangaroo, Milingimba, Crocodile Island, North Arnhem Land 25.5" x 15.25", Cat. No. 6-39

Cat. #6-39
Four human figures and a kangaroo, Milingimba, Crocodile Island, North Arnhem Land 25.5" x 15.25"

Lizards and fish, Milingimbi Northeast, Arnhem Land 23.25" x 15.5", Cat. No. 6-40

Cat. #6-40
Lizards and fish, Milingimbi Northeast, Arnhem Land 23.25" x 15.5"

Two human figures, Milingimbi, Northeast Arnhem Land 32" x 17.5", Cat. No. 6-41

Cat. #6-41
Two human figures, Milingimbi, Northeast Arnhem Land 32" x 17.5"

Three human figures, two birds, and two snakes, Yirrkalla, Northeast Arnhem Land 31.5" x 16.5", Cat. No. 6-42

Cat. #6-42
Three human figures, two birds, and two snakes, Yirrkalla, Northeast Arnhem Land 31.5" x 16.5"

Kangaroo in x-ray, Minji, Crocker Island 26.75" x 11", Cat. No. 6-48

Cat. #6-48
Kangaroo in x-ray, Minji, Crocker Island 26.75" x 11"

Fish by Peter Nambarridj, Maningrida or Yirrakala 26.25" x 10.25", Cat. No. 6-54

Cat. #6-54
Fish by Peter Nambarridj, Maningrida or Yirrakala 26.25" x 10.25"

Wamba the swamp bird, Wadaymu, Northeast Arnhem Land 14" x 32", Cat. No. 6-89

Cat. #6-89
Wamba the swamp bird, Wadaymu, Northeast Arnhem Land 14" x 32"

Three suns and three human figures by Larrtjungga, Northeast Arhem Land 13" x 23", Cat. No. 6-90

Cat. #6-90
Three suns and three human figures by Larrtjungga, Northeast Arhem Land 13" x 23"

Anteater 15" x 6", Cat. No. 6-91

Cat. #6-91
Anteater 15" x 6"

Eight human figures by Yirrwalla, Gunwinggu Tribe, West Arnhem Land 25" x 17", Cat. No. 6-92

Cat. #6-92
Eight human figures by Yirrwalla, Gunwinggu Tribe, West Arnhem Land 25" x 17"

Two rodents and two butterflies by Narritjin, Northeast Arnhem Land 25" x 13", Cat. No. 6-93

Two rodents and two butterflies by Narritjin, Northeast Arnhem Land 25" x 13", Cat. No. 6-93

Fish by Mijau Mijau, Gunwinggu Tribe, West Arnhem Land 27" x 12", Cat. No. 6-94

Cat. #6-94
Fish by Mijau Mijau, Gunwinggu Tribe, West Arnhem Land 27" x 12"

Opossum tree story by Narritjin, Northeast Arnhem Land 52" x 22", Cat. No. 6-95

Cat. #6-95
Opossum tree story by Narritjin, Northeast Arnhem Land 52" x 22"

Murrujun mortuary rites by Walipurra Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Arnhem Land 33.5" x 14.5", Cat. No. 6-97

Cat. #6-97
Murrujun mortuary rites by Walipurra Milingimbi Methodist Mission, Arnhem Land 33.5" x 14.5"