Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia

Inside this historical house on a hilltop in Charlottesville, Virginia, visitors are transported to Australia and engulfed by Indigenous culture in the form of artwork that surprises, challenges, and inspires.  

The Kluge-Ruhe is the only museum outside of Australia dedicated to works of art created by Indigenous artists from across Australia. While the culture is known as the oldest continuous culture in the world, the artwork inside is fresh and contemporary. They often address current issues facing Indigenous cultures across Australia such as issues surrounding land rights, social justice, and sovereignty.

The various artists that are showcased often use deeply personal ways to maintain a connection to their ancestors, country, and law. At the same time, their work explores new media, as their art is used to reveal the complexity of contemporary Indigenous life.

A stop into this museum is a dive into a culture in which art is connected to all of life, and as such is a doorway to cross-cultural conversations.