The National Gallery of Australia has commissioned an independent review of a major upcoming exhibition of artworks from the APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) Lands, following explosive allegations.
The gallery said it was launching a review into the provenance and creation of works in its forthcoming exhibition Ngura Pulka - Epic Country, after it was alleged that non-Indigenous arts workers painted parts of works by Aboriginal artists.
The APY Art Centre Collective, at the centre of the allegations published in The Australian, has "strenuously" denied the accusations, saying they are false and defamatory.
The gallery describes Ngura Pulka - Epic Country as "one of the largest and most significant First Nations community-driven art projects to have ever been developed".
"All parts of Ngura Pulka are being entirely conceived, created, directed, and determined by Anangu people," the APY Art Centre Collective said.
Home to 2500 people, the APY Lands in remote South Australia support a network of Anangu communities.
The major exhibition, at the Canberra gallery from June 3 until October 8, features works by artists from the APY Art Centre Collective, which represents seven arts centres, and includes heavy-hitters from the region and multiple award winners.
The allegations claim arts workers interfered with artists' work, including painting on canvases.
The National Gallery announced it is commissioning an independent review to assess provenance, authorship and the extent of the "hand of assistance".
A spokesperson for the APY Art Centre Collective said the organisation welcomed the independent review and will fully and openly participate.
"It is important to all of our artists that there is no question as to the integrity of our process of the creation of our art," they said.
The APY Art Centre Collective said in a statement its studios meet the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
The organisation has previously detailed the roles performed by arts assistants, including performing "underpainting", the statement said.
"It is in no way interfering with the artist's Tjukurpa (creation) or out of the ordinary for an art assistant to take part in this process, including slopping or spraying the wash on the canvas at this stage, at the artist's direction, Indigenous or otherwise.
"True industry experts understand the line between assistance at artists' direction and interference with the artistic process and know that APY ACC has never crossed this line.
"It is grossly offensive to the many hundreds of proud Anangu who work with APY ACC to suggest otherwise, or that they would tolerate their Tjukurpa being interfered with."
Gabrielle Sullivan, chief executive of the Indigenous Art Code, an organisation that administers a voluntary code of conduct for art dealers and artists, told AAP her organisation was aware of the allegations.
"We acknowledge the courage it takes for artists to come forward and ask questions about their artistic business relationships and arrangements," she said.
"If you are an artist with concerns about how you have been treated by a business or individual involved in the facilitation, exhibition, promotion, licensing and selling of your artwork, please contact the Indigenous Art Code.
"The Indigenous Art Code is committed to ensuring that all artists are treated fairly and respectfully."
