65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art

65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art celebrates the brilliance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art while confronting the dark heart of Australia’s colonial history and proclaims the importance of Indigenous knowledge and agency. The exhibition features more than 400 works, including rarely-seen artworks and cultural objects from the University of Melbourne’s collections, 193 important loans from 77 private and public lenders and six new commissions.

Complementing the exhibition are important educational resources for primary, secondary as well as tertiary students, designed to build a deeper understanding of Indigenous art, history and culture. These educational resources will continue to be available beyond the life of the exhibition. They are developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne’s signature Ngarrngga Project, which builds innovative curriculum resources in collaboration with Indigenous Knowledge Experts.

Curated by Associate Provost and Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton AO, Senior Curator Judith Ryan AM, and Associate Curator Shanysa McConville – in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and custodians of art traditions – the exhibition explores the belated recognition of Indigenous art and its rise to prominence globally.

Publication

65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art

Purchase

Edited by Distinguished Associate Provost Professor Marcia Langton AO and Senior Curator Judith Ryan AM, the book is a scholarly work offering new insights into the first art of this country. Featuring writing by twenty-five leading thinkers across generations and disciplines, the publication celebrates Indigenous Australian art across time, media and language groups.

Published by the University of Melbourne with Thames and Hudson

Read morePurchase

Upcoming events

Opening Weekend Conversations

31 May – 1 June 2025

Celebrate the launch of 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art with a dynamic weekend of thought-provoking conversations.

Our learning programs

Student Tours

Deep dive into 65,000 Years with a curriculum-aligned exhibition tour guided by experienced facilitators, catering to school Grades 3–12.

65,000 Years Teacher PD

Learn how to engage students more deeply with the themes in Potter exhibitions through these professional development opportunities for educators.

65,000 Years Learning Resources

To support teaching and learning around the 65,000 Years exhibition, Ngarrngga is creating high quality, Indigenous-led curriculum resources.

Supporters

Principal Supporters

Peter McMullin AM and Ruth McMullin

Lead Supporters

Peter Jopling AM KC

The Erica Foundation

Creative Australia

Creative Victoria

Foundational Supporters

Andy and Rainie Zhang

The Naomi Milgrom Foundation

Supporters

Judith and Leon Gorr

Rebecca Hossack

John and Susan Wardle

Her Honour Irene Lawson

Brendan Kissane KC

Virgina Lovett and Rose Hiscock

Publication Partner

The Gordon Darling Foundation

Education Partner

Ngarrngga