Never before in the history of the National Gallery of Australia could you walk out of an exhibition wearing a new pair of sneakers decorated in Indigenous art, and that’s because the 5th National Indigenous Art Triennial, After The Rain, has got legs.

Modelling a new pair of Volleys showcasing Aretha Brown’s bold artwork is National Gallery director Nick Mitzevich, who’s a walking, talking representation of Aboriginal enterprise.

Artists are in charge this time round – not the gallery – and they’ve delivered a show that spans meditative and intimate works to large-scale political pieces that all speak to renewal.

Indigenous dancers from the very tip of Cape York travelled 3,500km to Canberra especially to open the exhibit, dancing beneath 500 suspended flying foxes made by Wik-Mungkan artist Alair Pambegan.

Still looking upward, another ceiling is adorned with celestial bark paintings, Milniyawuy (Milky Way), by Yolnu artist Naminapu Maymuru-White.

Don’t rush through though, this artwork invites you to slow down and enjoy it in Yolnu time. Stretch out on a cushion and take in the ancient celestial sky.

Here the ancient collides with the new and Indigenous artists work with memory, material, technology and language. These cultural warriors span from up in the Torres Strait, right down to Alice Springs and to Melbourne 

Canberrans may remember the last time Indigenous artist Vincent Namatjira visited the National Gallery (his subversive portrait of Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart caused a sensation when Ms Rinehart requested its removal). This time around, his paintings greet viewers with intimate portraits of each participating artist.

His acclaimed great grandfather, Albert Namatjira, is at the heart of the exhibition in The House of Namatjira, where his watercolour landscapes hang on ochre-splashed walls alongside art by 57 artists who are his family and community. It’s a multi-generational tribute to Albert Namatjira as a pioneer of contemporary Indigenous art.

Not only is this exhibition one of the most significant platforms for First Nations art in the country, it is a moving one that speaks to both environmental challenges and queer Blak futures.

An unexpected addition at the end of the exhibit is a display of First Nations furniture design and fashion by Blaklash.

Again, walking out of a gallery with a coffee table is a first. Artists have developed parallel projects to support merchandise, Aboriginal enterprise and creative industry pathways. This not only inspires bespoke xmas gifts for us but also supports agency, entrepreneurship and long-term impact for Indigenous people and communities.

After The Rain is timed to capitalise on the gallery’s highest peak of visitors during the summer holidays, with an expected 200,000 visitors to visit. Opening weekend is tomorrow (Saturday 6 December), 10:30am-5pm. Meet the artists, join a workshop, listen to a panel talk and gather in the gardens for music and carols – Blak Christmas style. Exhibition runs until 26April 2026. Program: nga.gov.au/events/opening-weekend