OUR STORY

After experiencing and living in the Katherine region since 1963 and developing a love for the landscape, culture and Indigenous artwork surrounding us we opened our first gallery in 1996, originally 'Katherine Art Gallery'. Over this time we have developed both personal and business relationships with artists locally and from all regions of the Northern Territory and Australia. 

Katherine has historically been a meeting place for many Indigenous language groups and continues today. The township is located at the heart of the ‘Big Rivers’ region, extending from the Western Australian border to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and along the eastern Queensland border. This large region is home to 23 Aboriginal communities and 110 Indigenous family outstations, where Katherine is the central and the main supply centre for these communities. 

We source most of our art directly from the artists, who often come to us with their artworks for sale. This has given us the opportunity for over 27 years to get to know artists from many different regions throughout the Territory and consequently being invited out to homelands.

As Top Didj Art Gallery holds a portfolio of artists from a very large region, the gallery reflects the cultural diversity and influences of Indigenous people who have lived in these areas for thousands of years. 

The gallery has a range of strong collections from the the local Katherine region (Jawoyn, Dalabon, Mali), Arnhem Land, the Kimberley’s, Central and Western Desert (Walpiri).

After working with artists for many years, in 2009 founders Alex and Petrena Ariston developed Top Didj Cultural Experience (currently unavailable). Visitors to the gallery often wanted to meet and interact with Indigenous people to learn more about their rich culture and the Cultural Experience gave guests the interactions and experiences they were seeking.

Top Didj Art Gallery still hosts many 'artists in residence', allowing guests to observe artists in the formation and progress of their artworks, and engage in Indigenous art and culture, hearing firsthand the meaning behind the artworks.

Sadly, in late 2021, after the completion of the new gallery, Alex suddenly passed away. His work for over almost 30 years lives on in Top Didj Art Gallery and we endeavour to continue his legacy.