India Art Fair '25.: New Delhi

N.Smith Gallery is honoured to partner with the Australian High Commission, New Delhi to present Darrell Sibosado’s significant new artworks at India Art Fair.

Darrell Sibosado’s practice brings traditional riji (pearl shell carving) into a contemporary dialogue, carrying deep cultural and spiritual meaning, reflecting the knowledge and traditions of his people.

Partnering with the Australian High Commission and India Art Fair to present Darrell’s work marks significant moment – one that highlights the power of art in fostering cross-cultural connections and honouring First Nations perspectives on a global stage.

Darrell Sibosado is a Bard man from Lombadina situated on the Dampier Peninsula of the Kimberley coast, Western Australia. His practice explores the innovative potential of the riji (pearl shell) designs within a contemporary context. Passed down over countless generations, the designs represent the detached scales of Aalingoon, the Rainbow Snake, as he rests on the ocean surface, shedding his scales containing traditional knowledge and beliefs.

Through his printmaking and installations, Darrell reflects on traditional Bard lore and is intent on reiterating that Aboriginal culture is a living, adaptive culture that undeniably commands a presence in the contemporary space. Recently, Sibosado has transformed these traditional Bard shell carving designs into large-scale light sculptures.

Sibosado's work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, and Fondation Opale, Switzerland, and is currently undertaking large-scale commissions for several major exhibitions.