Title: Fence Line Gossip (2025)
Artist: Dr. Reece George (Martu)
Dimensions: 80 × 80 cm (31.5 × 31.5 in)
Medium: Acrylic on canvas (original)
Status: Available (original, unsold)
Year: 2025
Provenance: Stretched 2025; represented by Wentworth Galleries
Price: Contact for Inquiries
Fence Line Gossip serves as a commanding statement piece that perfectly balances sophisticated monochromatic tones with the irrepressible humour of the Martu worldview. Four curious emus… the “bush telegraph” of the desert… peer over a barbed-wire fence, their expressions rendered with a mix of cheeky defiance and intense curiosity. The striking composition, dominated by charcoal blacks, greys, and flashes of ochre, anchors the room while the subject matter invites immediate conversation. This is a work that promises to not only “stir the soul” but to bring a daily spark of joy to the collector’s environment.
As Dr. Reece George’s reputation grows among investment-focused collectors, Fence Line Gossip stands out as a prime example of his “prestige with playfulness” aesthetic. It is a bridge between the ancient heritage of the Western Desert and the contemporary luxury home… a piece of living history that refuses to take itself too seriously.
Cultural Context & Narrative
For Dr. Reece George, the emu is more than just an animal; it is a character from the Dreamtime and a constant observer of life on Beyondie Station. In Fence Line Gossip, Reece explores the intersection of pastoral history and Indigenous stewardship. The barbed wire fence… a symbol of boundaries… is subverted here by the emus who refuse to be contained, staring back at the viewer with bold confidence. This narrative reflects the resilience and adaptability of the Martu people.
Growing up under the vast desert sky, Reece watched “mobs” of emus interact with the station infrastructure, creating memories that now fuel his art. As noted in recent press, Reece’s work “weaves Indigenous storytelling with a modern aesthetic,” ensuring that every brushstroke carries the weight of history. Collectors acquiring this piece are not just buying an image; they are becoming custodians of a story about survival, community, and the humour required to thrive on Country.
Artistic Process & Medium
Fence Line Gossip is a testament to Reece’s meticulous technical mastery. Working on archival-quality canvas, he employs a complex layering of acrylics. The background is a dense field of intricate dot work… thousands of individual marks applied with rhythmic precision to mimic the texture of the desert sand and the shimmering heat haze. Against this abstract backdrop, the bold, figurative emus are painted with confident, expressive strokes.
The use of a restricted palette… dominantly greys and blacks with deliberate accents of orange… signals a modern evolution in Aboriginal art, making this piece highly adaptable to contemporary interior design. The painting offers a tactile experience; the interplay of rough dot work and smooth washes creates a surface depth that demands to be viewed in person.
Provenance & Exhibition Journey
Completed in late 2025, this work is fresh from the artist’s studio. It has been hand-stretched on a custom hardwood frame, ensuring museum-standard longevity. Fence Line Gossip is an exclusive original; to protect the investment value for the collector, no prints or editions will be produced of this work.
About the Artist
Dr. Reece George (b. 1967) is a distinguished Martu artist and scholar whose work is rapidly gaining traction in the secondary art market. Bridging the worlds of academia and ancient tradition, his art is celebrated for its intellectual depth and visual accessibility. His works are currently held in private collections across Australia, Singapore, and the US. As The Urbanite recently noted, his paintings are “joyful Martu storytelling in fine art… owning a piece is a statement of sophisticated prestige.”
Collector’s Notes
- Investment Quality: As a unique original by an emerging blue-chip Indigenous artist, Fence Line Gossip represents a sound acquisition. The exclusivity of the work (no prints) protects its long-term market value.
- Statement Piece: At 80cm square, this artwork is designed to hold a wall. Its monochromatic palette allows it to integrate seamlessly into modern, minimalist, or industrial interiors while adding necessary cultural warmth.
- Cultural Legacy: Owning this work is an act of preserving the world’s oldest continuous living culture. The intricate background dots encode knowledge of the land, making this a “meaningful asset” that transcends decoration.
- Framing Recommendations: We recommend a “float frame” in natural Tasmanian Oak or matte black. This museum-style framing adds a shadow gap between the canvas and the frame, enhancing the sense of the artwork as a precious object.
- White-Glove Service: Worldwide insured shipping is available in custom-built crates. For collectors in Sydney and Brisbane, private home-viewings can be arranged to see how the work interacts with your space before purchase.
For a private consultation regarding Fence Line Gossip, or to request high-resolution detail shots of the brushwork, please contact our team.
