Gallery Information
Founded in 1981, Art Leven (formerly Cooee Art) is Australia’s oldest exhibiting fine art gallery dedicated to First Nations artists. For more than four decades, the gallery has built a reputation grounded in scholarship, connoisseurship and long-standing relationships with artists, art centres and collectors.
Under the direction of Mirri Leven, the gallery has undergone a careful and strategic evolution. Today, Art Leven operates through a refined hybrid model that bridges the primary and secondary markets – working directly with Indigenous-owned art centres and artists while stewarding important secondary-market works with strong provenance. This structure supports ethical representation, market integrity and sustainable outcomes for artists and communities.
In 2026, Art Leven opened its new home in Woolloomooloo, within a heritage-listed three-storey building dating to 1892. Located opposite the East Sydney Hotel and moments from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the gallery sits within Sydney’s established arts precinct. The building retains original architectural features, including fireplaces, generous proportions and soaring ceilings, providing a considered setting for museum-quality exhibitions.
The space is designed for both scale and intimacy – with dedicated exhibition floors, private viewing rooms and substantial stockrooms that allow collectors and institutions to engage deeply with the works.
Art Leven is a collaborative space. We work closely with First Nations curators, cultural custodians and community art centres across Australia, prioritising respectful engagement and transparency at every stage of the process.
Our extensive stockroom holds more than 3,000 works by over 150 artists, spanning Central and Western Desert painting, Arnhem Land bark, Tiwi painting, Kimberley ochres and significant early Papunya works. The breadth of the collection reflects regional diversity and individual innovation, offering collectors access to works of depth, quality and cultural authority.
As we enter this next chapter in Woolloomooloo, our commitment remains constant: to present rigorous exhibitions and auctions, uphold ethical standards, and support the enduring cultural practices of First Nations artists across Australia.