ABOUT
D’Lan Contemporary hosts regular exhibitions of exceptional modern and contemporary art by Australian First Nations artists in Melbourne, and at partner venues in Sydney, Brisbane, and New York. D’Lan Contemporary also exhibits at Australian and international art fairs.
With the view that Australian First Nations art can and should stand alongside the greatest art in the world, and with a new space set to open in New York, May 2023, 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.
Read more about how we do this here.
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.
COLLABORATIONS
D’Lan Contemporary has, over the past few years, partnered with global contemporary gallerist, Gagosian for a series of successful exhibitions in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris, with an aim to increase awareness of and appreciation for Australian First Nations art and culture.
Locally, we recently formed a partnership with the renowned William Mora Galleries in Melbourne and Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane that will see us host more collaborative exhibitions of exceptional Australian First Nations art.
Subscribe to find out more about upcoming exhibitions 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.
Read more about our Ethics Policy here.
TEAM
Diane de Mascarel
Diane has over 18 years experience in an arts industry career spanning galleries, auction houses and museums in Paris, London and Melbourne. In early 2022, Diane joined D’Lan Contemporary after several years at Heide Museum of Modern Art.
Diane completed bachelor degrees in art history at the Ecole du Louvre and La Sorbonne University in Paris. After a few years 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.
Gallery Assistant
Chloe Jones
Chloe is a Yorta Yorta woman from the Wollithega and Kalitheban clans in rural Victoria. Chloe has a deep appreciation for her culture and was inspired from an early age to pursue a career within the arts. She previously worked at Kaiela Arts Centre where she began her journey in the arts industry as an emerging contemporary Indigenous artist and gallery assistant.
Chloe joined D’Lan Contemporary in 2021. She holds a degree in Business and is a currently studying for a Bachelor of Art History & Curation at Monash University.
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.
Founder & Director
D’Lan Davidson
D’Lan has over 20 years’ experience as a leading international Australian Indigenous art consultant, dealer and gallerist, working with private and institutional collections, conducting private sales, and consigning major works of art to auction.
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 and gallerists 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 both here in Australia and overseas.
In May 2019, D’Lan helped curate the Collection of Steve Martin and Anne Stringfield at Gagosian Gallery in New York, which was later exhibited at Gagosian L.A.
Since then, D’Lan Contemporary has partnered with Gagosian for a series of successful exhibitions in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris and locally, with the renowned William Mora Galleries in Melbourne and Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane.
Gallery Representative, New York
Lauren Hawker
Lauren has over 15 years experience as a business development and programming strategist in the entertainment, media and finance sectors spanning film & television and live events in the United States and Asia Pacific. Lauren has hosted various philanthropic and cultural events with the Aspen Institute, as well as working with notable business and government leaders at The World Economic Forum and US Open.
Residing in New York City for over a decade, Lauren joined D’Lan Contemporary as the US Gallery Representative in January 2023. Lauren works closely with D’Lan on building awareness of Australian First Nations Art in the United States and curating educational programming at the gallery and with various leading institutions.
Lauren is a proud member of the American Australian Association and holds a Bachelor of Journalism at Macleay College.
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 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.
