Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection

The Kluge-Ruhe Collection is an art museum in Charlottesville focused on Australian art forms, displaying bark paintings, sculptures, and photographs from artists across the continent. The gallery shows both traditional and contemporary works created over many generations.

A collector started gathering Australian artworks in the 1980s and later combined this collection with pieces from another collector's holdings. The combined collections were then given to the University of Virginia, where the museum is housed today.

The works here come directly from Australian artists and tell stories about land, family, and daily life. You can see how traditional patterns and modern forms of expression come together in the pieces on display.

The museum is open regularly and gives visitors time to explore the works at their own pace. Check the website before your visit to find current opening times and any special events that might be happening.

This is the only place in the United States dedicated entirely to Australian art, offering a collection you cannot find elsewhere in the country. The works have been gathered over decades and form an unusual resource for visitors outside Australia.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1999

Operator: University of Virginia

Website: https://kluge-ruhe.org

GPS coordinates: 38.02560,-78.44250

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:47