ABOUT
Representing Australia’s most dynamic and distinctive art movement, D’Lan Contemporary hosts regular exhibitions of exceptional modern and contemporary art by First Nations artists at our gallery spaces in Melbourne, Sydney and New York, at partner venues, and at international art fairs.
Our aim is to engage and educate audiences, and to promote and elevate Australian First Nations art on a global stage.
MISSION
Our mission is to develop an inclusive and sustainable marketplace for Australian First Nations art, and to help support artists, artist estates and their broader working communities.
Our vision is for D’Lan Contemporary to become a platform for the voices of Australian First Nations artists past and present, and a destination for discussion and discourse, with a programme of educational and engaging exhibitions, talks and events.
BUY + SELL WITH D’LAN CONTEMPORARY
D’Lan Contemporary maintains strict ethical practices and exclusively sources, exhibits and sells works of art with impeccable provenance, to protect the artist, the buyer, and the market, from fraudulent sales or unethical procurement.
We offer works of art for sale via exhibitions and by Private Treaty.
If you are interested in selling or buying a work of art or a collection of works, please contact us for a confidential discussion or appraisal.
Subscribe to find out more about upcoming exhibitions and events in Melbourne, Sydney, New York and beyond.
TEAM
Founder & Director
D’Lan Davidson
D’Lan has over 20 years’ experience as a leading international Australian Indigenous art consultant, dealer and gallerist.
In 2016, after over 10 years working with commercial galleries and auction houses, D’Lan established D’Lan Contemporary. As Director, D’Lan works closely with collectors, gallerists and institutions around the world to source, exhibit, buy and sell exceptional works of art by Australia’s leading First Nations artists and to raise awareness and appreciation in Australia and overseas.
In 2019, D’Lan helped curate the Collection of Steve Martin & Anne Stringfield at Gagosian Gallery, New York, which was later exhibited at Gagosian L.A. In 2023, he helped curate 60 Over 50, an exhibition of works from the private collections of John and Barbara Wilkerson and Steve Martin and Anne Stringfield in New York.
Managing Director
Diane de Mascarel
Diane has over 18 years experience in the arts industry career spanning galleries, auction houses and museums in Paris, London and Melbourne.
Diane completed Bachelor degrees in art history at the Ecole du Louvre and La Sorbonne University in Paris. After a few years working in London, Diane relocated to Australia in 2008 and has held a variety of roles at organisations within the commercial and non-profit sector of the arts industry.
In early 2022, Diane joined D’Lan Contemporary, after several years at Heide Museum of Modern Art.
Head of Research
Vanessa Merlino
Vanessa has been part of the D’Lan Contemporary team since 2019 and currently holds the position of Head of Research.
Starting as a Field Officer for Papunya Tula Artists and then as Studio Manager at Ninuku Arts in the APY Lands, Vanessa has worked closely with several of Australia’s most significant First Nations artists. In these roles, she acquired a rich understanding of artists and art centres; the role they play in indigenous communities and their essential contribution to contemporary Australian art.
It was the experience of living in remote communities that sowed the seed for an ongoing passion for Indigenous Art, which, once leaving the bush, informed her work with private art collections and other areas of the art market. Vanessa is completing a Graduate Diploma in Art History at the University of Melbourne. She holds degrees in Visual Arts, Community Cultural Development and Art Curatorship.
Director
Luke Scholes
Luke brings over 20 years’ experience to his role as Director, D’Lan Contemporary. Since beginning his career as Field Officer, then Assistant Manager at Papunya Tula Artists in 2003, Luke has forged a career as a respected curator and scholar in First Nations art. In 2008, he worked for Martumili Artists in Western Australia, before joining the National Gallery of Victoria as Project Officer, Indigenous Art.
In 2015, he was appointed curator of Aboriginal Art and Material Culture at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, where he curated the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Awards (2016-2020) and the award-winning exhibitions Tjungunutja: from having come together (2017) and The Moment Eternal: Nyapanyapa Yunupingu (2020). More recently, he was Associate Research Fellow at Deakin University, Melbourne.
Registrar & Research Assistant
Isabella Wadley
Isabella is a graduate of The University of Melbourne and holds a Bachelor Degree in Art History, Screen and Cultural Studies.
Previously, Isabella held the position of Fine Art Registrar & Assistant at Leonard Joel auction house, where she collaborated closely with the Indigenous Art Specialist to deliver important collections of First Nations Art at auction. Isabella has also worked as a Curatorial Assistant on local and international public art projects, contributing to the development of First Nations placemaking in public installations.
Isabella joined D’Lan Contemporary as Gallery Registrar in January 2024.
Gallery Manager, Sydney
Lauren Harvey
During this time, Lauren developed her interest in working directly with clients and artists to advise and manage collections.
Gallery Manager, New York
Lucy Foster
Lucy has worked in the commercial art sector in Australia for more than a decade, where her expertise has traversed both the primary and secondary markets.
During her time as a Senior Specialist at an Australian auction house, she focused on the ethical handling of First Nations art and its positioning within the secondary art market. One of her most notable achievements was the introduction and implementation of an Indigenous Art Policy, which ensured that all works offered at auction held a clear line of provenance which could be traced back to the artist, community art centre or primary representative.
Lucy holds an Executive Master of Arts from Melbourne University and a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts. She joined D’Lan Contemporary as Gallery Manager, New York in January 2024.
Marketing & Communications
Nicole Kenning
Nicole has extensive experience in both commercial and not for profit arts industry sectors in Europe and Australia. She began her career at Christie’s auction house, London where she worked for over ten years in the Impressionist, Modern & Contemporary Art Department and as a Senior Marketing Account Manager, Europe.
In 2010, Nicole relocated to Australia and has worked in a variety of roles within the arts industry, including Marketing Manager at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Mossgreen and Leonard Joel auction houses and Marketing Director, Melbourne Art Fair.
Nicole joined D’Lan Contemporary in early 2021. She is currently based in the UK, and continues to work with the gallery to fulfil its marketing and communications requirements and to foster awareness of Australian First Nations art following the gallery’s successful inaugural exhibition at Frieze Masters 2023 in London.
