Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is a distinctive feature of Australia’s cultural and creative landscape and a sizeable component of Australian identity. While the political dimensions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art remain much contested, the aesthetic and economic aspects are better established. Reflecting the prominent place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in Australian society, there have been – for over 40 years – numerous attempts to place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art into the global art market, as both a cultural experience and a commercial opportunity. This paper surveys the uneven history of these attempts and the often contradictory motivations at work. These attempts are given some context through statistical information, and the paper concludes with a summary of the current challenges and opportunities.