Absence Exhibition Nine Lives is coming to BlackCat Fitzroy! With a newly created collection of original artworks, Maegan Oberhardt creates expressive portraits of nine of the most threatened cat species around the world. Artworks are created by a technique called ‘Painting with Fire’, which is the process of layering the carbon soot from an open flame onto a drawing and then etching to reveal the animal portrait. The artworks represent the scar that is left behind from the expansion of the human race and her hope is to encourage awareness on how these specific wildlife have been affected.

With this specific collection metallic inks such as copper, golds, and silvers have been interweaved into the artworks and these features are hand painted onto the Limited Edition prints to mimic the effects of the originals.

Enhanced Limited Edition Framed Giclee Prints will be available for purchase at the event

About the Artist

Maegan Oberhardt is a Melbourne based wildlife artist. Having spent her early years on a farm in rural Queensland, she completed tertiary studies at the Academy of Design (now known as LCI Melbourne) in Collingwood. She has a passion for animals, and is well versed in creating portraits based on composite sketches. She has refined a technique of Painting with Fire by etching the carbon soot residue of an open flame to reveal hyper-realistic images of wildlife. Combining her passion and skills, she has created a collection of original artworks that raise awareness and provide a voice to these endangered species.