About the Artist
Alfred is a proud Gunaikurnai man and post-release artist with The Torch, who only picked up a brush in 2018.

He completed a Koori Art course through Kangan TAFE but has mainly taught himself, together with guidance from Sean Miller, his Indigenous Arts Officer at The Torch.

Alfred is known for using contemporary lines and dots, as well as placing realistic animals and objects into his work. He focuses on culture, ancestors, family and Country as his subject matter.

His inspiration comes from his grandfather:

“I lived with my grandfather for a couple of years when I was young, before he died. He would make boomerangs and didgeridoos the traditional ways and his brushes out of animal hair, and he would make his paint from scratch. He is my idol.”

Alfred paints not only to make a living, but to retain, regain, and pass on his culture.

“I am a full time artist now and my art practice is important to me. Painting makes me happy.”

In May 2022, Alfred was awarded the Melbourne Rd Art & Canvas Stretching Development Award in association with The Torch's Confined 13 exhibition. He had previously won the Melbourne Road Art & Canvas Stretching Award at The Torch's Confined 11 exhibition in 2020. He is evolving his style with every painting, and simply wants to keep painting for now and see what happens in the future.

About the Artwork
The emu has now grown up a bit. He is looking around Country at night for a partner to settle down with.