Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby

Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby is painted on recycled paper handmade by Melbourne-based ‘Dodgy Paper’, using materials from previous projects. The paper’s soft texture and ragged edges contrast with the wallaby’s angular, geometric form, creating a tension between fragility and strength. Painted entirely in leftover mural acrylics, the medium connects this work to my large-scale practice while exploring how similar impact and storytelling can be achieved on a smaller scale. Inspired by hiking the Grampians Peaks Trail, the piece reflects on the elusive and critically endangered Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby and its precarious existence in a fire-affected landscape. The red palette signifies both its vulnerable conservation status and the aftermath of the 2024 bushfires. Drawing on Art Deco influences, the wallaby’s anxious glance over its shoulder captures resilience and uncertainty, inviting reflection on loss, renewal and the hope found through art, community and conservation.