First Nations Art in Melbourne: Why Echoes of Earth Will Always Have a Place at Gallery Unbound
First Nations art in Melbourne is incredibly diverse, and that’s exactly what I hope people discover when they visit Echoes of Earth.
Some exhibitions fill a gap in the calendar.
Others become part of who you are.
Echoes of Earth is one of those exhibitions.
Long before I ever imagined owning an art gallery in Melbourne, I was fascinated by First Nations stories. Like many Australians, my first introduction came in primary school through Dreamtime stories and the Rainbow Serpent. I remember being captivated by the storytelling, the symbolism and the artwork. That curiosity stayed with me long after I left the classroom.
Years later, when I signed the lease for Gallery Unbound, I found myself thinking back to those early memories. For the first time, I had the opportunity to do something meaningful with the space I had created.
Not by telling First Nations stories myself.
But by creating a place where First Nations artists could tell their own.
That decision became Echoes of Earth, Gallery Unbound’s annual First Nations art exhibition in Melbourne, opening each year during NAIDOC Week.
If you’d like to know more about why Gallery Unbound exists, you can read The Story Behind Gallery Unbound.
Why Echoes of Earth Became Permanent
When I first mapped out Gallery Unbound’s exhibition calendar, there were only three exhibitions I knew would become permanent fixtures.
The first celebrates International Women’s Day.
The second is Unbound, our anniversary exhibition celebrating another year of Gallery Unbound.
The third was Echoes of Earth.
It wasn’t added because I needed another exhibition to fill the calendar.
It was included because it reflected the kind of gallery I wanted Gallery Unbound to become.
A gallery can be more than a place to hang artwork.
It can create opportunities.
Artists can be introduced to people they may never have discovered otherwise.
It can bring communities together and create conversations that continue long after an exhibition has closed.
Echoes of Earth has always been my way of contributing to that.
What Being an Ally Means to Me
As someone who isn’t First Nations, I’ve always been conscious that my role isn’t to tell these stories.
My role is to create space for them.
Owning a gallery has given me the privilege of deciding how that space is used. For me, one of the most meaningful ways I can use it is by creating opportunities for First Nations artists to share their work on their own terms.
That means providing the same professional exhibition experience every artist receives at Gallery Unbound.
The same promotion.
With the same care.
And the same respect.
The only difference is that Echoes of Earth has always been free for participating artists.
It’s one small way I can remove a barrier and make it easier for artists to be involved.
I don’t see Echoes of Earth as a one-off gesture or something to acknowledge once a year.
That’s why it has had a permanent place in our exhibition calendar from the very beginning.
Building Trust Before Building an Exhibition
One of the biggest lessons I learned from the first Echoes of Earth exhibition wasn’t about curating an exhibition.
It was about trust.
I quickly realised that artists needed to know who I was before deciding whether they wanted to be involved.
They wanted to know this exhibition came from a genuine place.
That Gallery Unbound would be somewhere they felt respected.
Somewhere they felt supported.
Trust wasn’t something I could expect.
It had to be earned through conversations, relationships and simply showing up.
Looking back, I think that’s one of the reasons Echoes of Earth has continued to grow.
When an Exhibition Became a Community
Last year’s opening remains one of my favourite gallery memories.
The evening began with a Welcome to Country, followed by a beautiful Māori New Year blessing.
As people wandered through the gallery, something else happened that I hadn’t anticipated.
Artists began meeting one another.
Conversations turned into friendships.
Connections were made between artists from different places, different backgrounds and different creative practices.
Watching that unfold reminded me that exhibitions aren’t only about the work on the walls.
They’re also about the people standing in front of them.
Sometimes the greatest outcome isn’t measured by the number of artworks sold.
It’s measured by the relationships that continue long after the exhibition comes down.
Growing Together
Echoes of Earth returns each year during NAIDOC Week, a time to celebrate and recognise the histories, cultures and achievements of First Nations peoples.
This year marks another exciting step forward through our partnership with VACSAL.
I first met Peter Hood while searching for artists for last year’s exhibition. Peter works with VACSAL, is an artist himself, and immediately understood what I hoped Echoes of Earth could become.
When I reached out again this year, those conversations grew into a partnership that has helped strengthen the exhibition even further.
It’s also reflected in the exhibition itself.
In 2025, Echoes of Earth brought together 22 First Nations artists.
This year, that number has grown to 34 artists from across Australia and New Zealand.
For me, those numbers aren’t simply about growth.
They’re about relationships.
They’re about trust.
And they’re about more artists choosing to become part of something that continues to evolve each year.
Discovering the Diversity of First Nations Art
If there’s one thing I hope every visitor takes away from Echoes of Earth, it’s an appreciation for the incredible diversity of First Nations art.
For many Australians, dot painting is the first—and sometimes only—style of First Nations art they’ve encountered.
While it holds deep cultural significance for many artists and communities, it represents just one part of an incredibly rich and diverse artistic landscape.
Echoes of Earth brings together contemporary painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, printmaking, mixed media and more.
Artists from different mobs.
Different life experiences.
Artists with different creative practices.
Different ways of telling stories.
Each artist brings something entirely their own, reminding us that there is no single First Nations perspective, just as there is no single way to create art.
If you’d like to continue discovering and supporting First Nations creatives beyond this exhibition, explore our First Nations Artist Directory.
Experiencing First Nations Art in Melbourne Through Echoes of Earth
If you’ve never visited a First Nations art exhibition before, I hope Echoes of Earth feels welcoming.
You’ll experience contemporary works across painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and mixed media.
You’ll discover artists from different mobs across Australia and New Zealand, each bringing their own stories, perspectives and cultural connections to their work.
Some works are quiet and reflective.
Others are bold and thought-provoking.
Some explore identity and family.
Others speak of Country, resilience, memory or community.
There isn’t one way to experience the exhibition.
Take your time.
Read the artist statements.
Ask questions.
Most importantly, allow yourself to connect with the work in your own way.
Come for the Art. Stay for the Experience.
Every year, someone asks me why they should visit Echoes of Earth.
My answer is always the same.
Come for the art. Stay for the experience.
Spend time with the work.
Read the stories.
Learn about the artists and the different mobs they belong to.
Start conversations.
Ask questions.
Be curious.
Whether you’re already passionate about First Nations art or this is your very first exhibition, I hope Echoes of Earth becomes a starting point rather than just a destination.
Because supporting First Nations artists shouldn’t begin and end during NAIDOC Week.
If you leave the gallery feeling inspired to keep discovering artists, attending exhibitions and building connections long after Echoes of Earth has closed, then I think we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do.
And that’s why Echoes of Earth will always have a place at Gallery Unbound.
Visit Echoes of Earth our First Nations art exhibition
Echoes of Earth is Gallery Unbound’s annual First Nations art exhibition in Melbourne and opens during NAIDOC Week.
This year’s exhibition runs from 08 July to 02 August and brings together 34 First Nations artists from across Australia and New Zealand.
Working across painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, printmaking, mixed media and more, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of contemporary First Nations art while creating opportunities for artists and meaningful experiences for visitors.
The exhibition celebrations are on Friday 10 July from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and everyone is welcome, while the show officially opens to the public on Wednesday 08 July at 10am.
To view the exhibiting artists, opening hours and exhibition details, visit the Echoes of Earth Exhibition Page.
If you’re new to collecting art, you might also enjoy reading How to Choose Art for Your Home, which offers practical advice on finding artwork you genuinely connect with.
Echoes of Earth is proudly listed as an official event on the NAIDOC Week Events page and is presented in partnership with VACSAL, whose support has helped strengthen this year’s exhibition and deepen the connections that continue to shape its future.