Djon Mundine

Djon Mundine OAM is a proud Bandjalung man from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.

Mundine is a respected curator, writer, artist and activist and is celebrated as a foundational figure in the criticism and exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal art.

Mundine has held many senior curatorial positions in both national and international institutions, some of which include the National Museum of Australia, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Campbelltown Arts Centre. 

Between the years 1979 and 1995, Mundine was the Art Advisor at Milingimbi and curator at Bula-bula Arts in Ramingining, Arnhem Land for sixteen years. Mundine was also the concept artist/ producer of the ‘Aboriginal Memorial’, comprising 200 painted poles by forty-three artists from Ramingining, each symbolising a year since the 1788 British invasion. The Memorial was central to the 1988 Biennale of Sydney and remains on permanent display at the National Gallery of Australia in the main entrance hall. 

In 1993, Mundine received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the promotion and development of Aboriginal arts, crafts and culture. Between 2005 and 2006 Mundine was resident at the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) in Osaka, Japan as a Research Professor in the Department of Social Research and a PhD candidate at National College of Art and Design, University of NSW. 

Djon Mundine OAM also won The Australia Council’s 2020 Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement and is currently an independent curator of contemporary Indigenous art and cultural mentor.  

Mundine was the correspondent advisor to Amanda Rowell (The Commercial Gallery) and curator Ellie Buttrose (QAGOMA) for Archie More’s exhibition 'Kith and Kin' in the Australia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024.

Windows and Mirrors (Art Ink 2025) is the first publication to catalogue Mundine’s immense and influential career.