Aboriginal Australian artists share faith through Salt Lake exhibit

SALT LAKE CITY — Artists from Australia are bringing culture, faith, and storytelling to Salt Lake City through a unique art exhibit at the Church History Museum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The exhibit, called "From Above," features Aboriginal Australian artwork from the Bird family, a group of nine artists who traveled thousands of miles to share paintings that reflect both their cultural heritage and their Latter-day Saint faith.

Gary Bird Mpetanye, one of the featured painters, said the artwork provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and understanding.

"Some of them want to know our traditional paintings and our traditional ways so we can show them and share them stories," Bird Mpetanye said. "If they can learn from us, we can learn (from) each other."

Each painting in the exhibit tells a story, often representing sacred traditions, ancestral journeys, or spiritual themes. The artists combine traditional Aboriginal styles with gospel influences, creating colorful works that connect their history with their beliefs.

Church History Museum Director Riley Lorimer said many of the pieces highlight the artists' personal faith and religious experiences.

"Most of the artists also here have paintings that reflect on their Latter-day Saint faith," Lorimer explained. "Some of them are stories from scripture, some are stories from church history."

Museum visitors have the chance to experience these stories firsthand while learning about Aboriginal culture and the artists' perspectives on faith through visual storytelling.

The "From Above" exhibit runs through Aug. 1 and is free to the public.

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