Artist: Dr. Reece George (Martu) | Year: 2025 | Medium: Acrylic on Canvas | Size: 100 × 100 cm
Status: Available (original only, no editions) | Represented by: Manyung Gallery
Cultural Context & Narrative
Every few years, the parched heart of the Western Desert transforms. Dry salt flats near Beyondie Station… where Dr. Reece George spent his childhood… turn into shimmering lakes after rare rains, suddenly alive with tiny fish and aquatic creatures. Desert Fish No. 494.6 channels the wonder of those moments through joyful storytelling and cultural memory. The titular fish is entirely imagined, a member of Reece’s playful “Desert Surf Club” series, yet it swims in very real orange mud.
That vivid ochre-orange background isn’t just artistic whimsy; it reflects the actual clay-rich mud of a desert lake bed swollen with water. In Martu culture, water means life, and here the artist envisions life celebrating… a fish triumphant under the desert sun, complete with a pair of stylish sunglasses. Even the number “494” in the title carries weight: it points to the 494-mile peg on the historic Rabbit Proof Fence that runs past Beyondie Station, rooting this fanciful scene in a very real place of personal and cultural significance.
Artistic Process & Medium
Executed in acrylic on canvas, Desert Fish No. 494.6 is a masterclass in layering and texture. George begins with broad, confident strokes of earthy orange, laying down the sun-baked mud tone that dominates the composition. This expansive wash of color doubles as bold negative space, giving the scene a warm, open atmosphere. Upon this rich ground, he builds the central figure: an electric-turquoise fish that practically glows against the desert palette.
The fish’s form is rendered with crisp lines and adorned with dense dot patterns and curved motifs, echoing traditional Martu dot painting techniques to suggest scales, ripples and the unseen energy of water. Each dot and mark is applied meticulously, often in multiple layers of blues, whites, and sandy yellows, creating a subtle sense of movement as if the fish were truly gliding through water. Even its tiny black sunglasses are painted with a gleaming sheen, a lighthearted detail that showcases George’s blend of humor and detail. The finished piece balances vibrant color and intricate patterning, merging ancient artistic traditions with a contemporary creative flair that is unmistakably Reece George.
Provenance & Exhibition Journey
Desert Fish No. 494.6 emerged from Dr. George’s Woodstock (NSW) studio in late-2025 as a standout of his new “Desert Surf Club” series. In the wake of his successful debut year, the painting was quickly picked up by Manyung Gallery Group, which proudly represents George’s work in Victoria. It has been featured in gallery showcases as an exemplary blend of Indigenous storytelling and modern artistry, and remains available exclusively through Manyung. As a fresh original work (with no editions produced), this canvas awaits its first collector.
George’s rise in the art world has been swift… from his first exhibitions in 2025 to inclusion in notable collections across Australia… lending this piece a certain provenance-by-association. For a connoisseur, acquiring Desert Fish No. 494.6 means joining the early chapters of an artist’s journey that bridges remote desert heritage with the global art scene. While this specific fish has yet to travel beyond the gallery walls, its “siblings” in the series and George’s other series (like his acclaimed Ding Dogs) have already made waves in exhibitions, signaling that this artwork’s journey is just beginning.
About the Artist
Dr. Reece George is a contemporary Aboriginal artist (born 1967, Perth) of Martu heritage, celebrated for infusing joyful storytelling into fine art. A relative newcomer to professional painting, George began exhibiting his work in 2025 after a rich career outside the art world. Grounded in his early life on Beyondie Cattle Station in Western Australia’s desert heart, he carries the voices of his Martu ancestors and the lessons of Country into every canvas. Now based in rural New South Wales, George creates bold, narrative-rich paintings that bridge the ancient and the modern. His style marries the intricate dot patterns and symbolism of Martu art with a bright, contemporary palette and playful figurative elements… a combination that gives his work broad emotional appeal.
Despite his recent entry into the art scene, Reece George’s impact has been immediate. His major series (from the soulful Martu Faces portraits to the whimsical Ding Dogs and Desert Surf Club) have struck a chord with collectors and critics, highlighting both the resilience of his people’s stories and the artist’s own irrepressible sense of humor. In 2025 alone, he has exhibited with Wentworth Galleries in Sydney and Brisbane and earned recognition as a finalist for a national art award. Manyung Gallery Group now represents George, connecting his work with new audiences. His paintings already grace private collections in Australia and overseas… each piece a vibrant ambassador of Martu culture and a testament to the power of storytelling in art.
Collector’s Notes
Owning Desert Fish No. 494.6 means more than hanging a beautiful artwork on the wall… it means becoming part of the story it carries. This one-of-a-kind painting (no prints or editions will ever be made) offers the discerning collector a rare opportunity to acquire an early masterpiece from a rising star in Indigenous contemporary art. Its presence is commanding: the 100 × 100 cm canvas draws the eye with luminous color and narrative detail, making it a captivating focal point in any space.
Beyond its visual appeal, the work resonates on a cultural level… as the new owner, you become a custodian of the rich Martu tale that inspired it, preserving and honoring that story in your collection. Given Dr. George’s swift ascent and the cultural significance embedded in his art, Desert Fish No. 494.6 is poised to be both a cherished heirloom and a conversation piece. It invites all who view it to share in a moment of desert magic and reminds us that even in the driest of lands, creativity and life find a way to shine.
Enquiries: To learn more about Desert Fish No. 494.6 or to request a private viewing, please contact Manyung Gallery Group … we are delighted to assist discerning collectors.
