Nina Fitzgerald's Laundry Gallery in Garramilla/Darwin redefines First Nations art engagement

Nina Fitzgerald, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman with family ties to the Limilngan-Wulna, Mualgal, and Wuthati peoples, operates Laundry Gallery in Garramilla/Darwin, opened in 2022. This multidisciplinary creative hub, housed in the former Parap Laundromat, bridges remote art centres and new audiences through a welcoming, contemporary space that avoids a white-cube setting. Monthly exhibitions spotlight exceptional First Nations artists, resituating age-old stories in a modern context. Fitzgerald's gallery supports rather than competes with community-led cultural enterprises, aiming to amplify artists' impact. Laundry Gallery has gained international recognition, including a spot on Condé Nast's 2026 must-visit list, highlighting Fitzgerald's rising influence in shaping collector engagement with First Nations art. The gallery's ethos, shared with business partner Laura Shellie, blends nostalgia with innovation, using the laundromat origin as a metaphor for spinning new stories. It serves as an accessible entry point for emerging collectors and younger buyers, fostering meaningful contact with artworks that might otherwise feel distant. The space's distinctive cool power and fresh curatorial approach attract diverse visitors, positioning Garramilla/Darwin as an essential destination for contemporary art connoisseurs.