A New Space For D’Lan Contemporary + A New Exhibition By Daniel Walbidi In New York 

We are delighted to announce that D’Lan Contemporary will open a second space in New York on East 73rd Street later this month.

The new space – for which the focus will be showcasing the work of living Australian First Nations artists – will enable us to expand and develop our exhibition, events, and educational talks program and to further celebrate and promote Australian First Nations art with U.S. and international audiences.

O​ur space on 81st Street will remain open by appointment​, with a focus on exhibiting exceptional secondary market works of art for private sale.

The 73rd Street gallery will open to the public on 26 April with a solo exhibition of new works by acclaimed contemporary Yulparitja / Mangala artist, Daniel Walbidi.

Yurlupirti – Forever Without End (eternal) – our second collaboration with ​W​albidi and his representative, Short Street gallery,​ following the first sell-out show in 2023 – will present 10 new paintings by ​the artist that reveal a transition in his practice and delve deeper into his personal beliefs and cultural perspectives which are invariably grounded in the land.

Daniel Walbidi was born in Bidyadanga, a coastal community 250km south of Broome, Western Australia, home to the Karrajarri people. Originally the La Grange Mission, this remote area in Western Australia served as a settlement for Indigenous people migrating from the desert to assist in building cattle stations. Lucy Foster, Gallery Manager, New York said, “Daniel’s upbringing fostered a deep appreciation for his people’s traditions and cross-cultural connections. As we prepare to see Daniel’s paintings grace the walls of our new space in New York, his art and words offer a poignant reflection on the importance of preservation and the enduring resilience of Australian First Nations cultures.”

Employing a vivid, layered abstract style, Walbidi explores profound questions about life through this new body of work. With water as a central theme, his work mirrors the fusion of coastal and desert environments through an intense color palette, offering a visual narrative that pays homage to his Yulparitja / Mangala heritage.

“My ambition is not only to be a successful artist but also to be someone who is able to make our culture known and understood and to give a different perspective of what land is to Aboriginal people. The laws of the land extend to New York. There is a long tradition through the Native American community, which I often think about… The fundamental laws for existence are all written in the land. My aim is to share our perspective because it will shift the approach and understanding of Western people. If you are born in the land, you are of the land,” says Walbidi.

D’Lan Contemporary is thrilled to welcome Daniel back to reveal an exciting new body of work in his artistic journey and following his sellout exhibition in New York last year, our expansion and second collaboration with Daniel is, in the words of D’Lan Davidson, “a testament to the momentum in his work and the growing appreciation and appetite for Australian First Nations art internationally.”  And, “We are deeply grateful to Daniel and his primary representative, Emily Rohr, at Short St Gallery for entrusting us with this profound exhibition.”

Yurlupirti – Forever Without End (eternal)
in association with Short Street Gallery 
April 26 to May 31, 2024
D’Lan Contemporary New York
Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am-6 pm
25 East 73rd Street
New York NY 10021
Enquiries:
Lucy Foster, Gallery Manager
lucy@dlancontemporary.com.au