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Welcome to our store

About

Owner and director Rikki Dank, is a Gudanji/Wakaja woman from Borroloola a remote community in the Northern Territory Australia.

In 2019 Rikki decided to showcase and share a small part of her culture by creating Lajarri. Lajarri exhibits an impressive range of contemporary and traditional Indigenous Australian paintings, fabric paintings and scarves from remote communities in the Northern Territory, sourced directly from the artist where possible.

Lajarri is the Gudanji language word for fire.

Rikki Dank and her daughter during a ceremony in Borroloola Northern Territory, Australia

We source all art from the Northern Territory Australia with a focus on the Central Desert

Our Values

Unique Art:

Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal) art is unlike any other art. It has ancient origins, coming from the oldest continuing culture on Earth, estimated at up to 120,000 years old. There are over 250 Aboriginal nations in Australia – each with its own history. The art has its origins in story telling and information sharing. The art is richly imbued with symbols and painting styles that have region-specific origins as well as some shared features. Due to the origins of the art, many pieces have stories associated with them and this is a feature that makes this form of art so unique – as these stories are often thousands of years old. Owning such art offers the opportunity to share in this history and to ensure that the stories can continue to be shared for many generations to come.

 Lajarri is unique placed to offer locally-sourced art that is both culturally sensitive as well as representative of the broad range of art styles and forms that are seen across the many Indigenous nations.



Supporting Artists and their Communities:

When buying Indigenous Australian art, you are directly supporting Artists and indirectly supporting the communities in which they live. For many of these artists, their art is their sole source of income and this is particular so for the older artists. This is very important, especially in the current socioeconomic context: Most Indigenous Australians have been displaced from their traditional country, into centralised ‘communities’ where there are limited employment and education opportunities and where the costs of living are prohibitive.  Art, as a means of sharing culture as well as generating an income, is invaluable to artists as a means to support their day to day existence.

By investing in this art, we are able to support artists and their communities as well as keep this important part of their culture alive. Community Art Centres often form the cultural hub – where artists can meet and create their art as well as share their stories and knowledge with the younger generations. This intergenerational sharing of knowledge and skills ensures the continuation of this rich and priceless part of Indigenous Australian culture. Importantly, at times when the buying of art has slowed down, these community centres often close, leaving people with no common place t0 gather: Buying art from these communities allows for these art centres to remain open and for the sharing to continue.



Investment:

Indigenous Australian Artists have achieved significant international fame. Artists such as Albert Namatjira, Minnie Pwerle, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri are not only internationally renowned, but have also had their artwork sold for prices in the millions (USD). The interest in this art has grown exponentially over the last three to four decades and there is no sign of this slowing down.

Investors normally like to invest in well known established artists as well as emerging artists – to develop a varied portfolio, with significant growth potential.

Important when purchasing Indigenous Australian art is provenance. It is imperative that all art is accompanied by Certificates of Authenticity – guaranteeing that the artwork has been produced by the stated artist. At Lajarri, all art is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.