Born from a profound spiritual encounter during a journey to Lightning Ridge, this vibrant work captures the sacred bond between Indigenous culture and nature. It is a significant piece from the artist's acclaimed Legacy Collection, with a strong exhibition history and an associated print series.
Collection: Legacy Collection
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 100 x 80 x 2 cm (approx. 39 x 31.5 in.)
Year: 2007
Provenance: The value of this original is supported by its powerful origin story, cultural significance, and print series.
Story & Narrative Significance
The central figure of this work is the Sacred Eagle, a deeply personal and culturally significant symbol representing the Wedgetail Eagle of the Waradjuri and Kamilaroi territories—the two nations that form the artist's family heritage.
The direct inspiration for this piece came during the days immediately following a trip to Lightning Ridge. On that journey, the artist encountered four dead eagles on the road. Deeply moved, he insisted on stopping for each one, gently moving their bodies to a final resting place and performing a ceremony of respect.
This powerful experience was a harbinger. The sacred number four symbolizes completion, renewal, and the four directions. The encounter became a catalyst for a deeper reconnection with culture and part of a journey of healing colonial wounds. Painted outdoors in the days that followed, 'Sacred Eagle' is the direct result of this experience—the ancient, iconographic form of the eagle becoming a symbol of recovery, healing, and the enduring power of spirit in the face of loss.
As a cornerstone of the Collection, this is a legacy work for a discerning collector seeking a piece with profound narrative depth and a powerful, personal history.
