Reko Rennie is a renowned contemporary artist of Kamilaroi heritage. His practice explores the complexities of his Aboriginal identity and upbringing in Melbourne, employing wit, contemporary iconography and bright colours to reframe the conditions and conflicts of urban life.

The cleverly titled ‘(Ab)Original (Blue Coat of Arms)’ presents a twist on the Australian coat of arms. A kangaroo and emu stand either side of a shield, its contents – typically emblems of Australia’s states and territories – have been replaced with the silhouette of an Aboriginal man holding a spear. Pop with a provocative edge, Rennie’s coat of arms reminds us of the colonial construction of Australia, its erasure of First Peoples and imagining of ‘Aboriginality’.

Rennie’s work is represented across all state collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and Art Gallery of New South Wales. and the New Contemporary Art Museum, Nanjing, China. In 2024 the National Gallery of Victoria presented a major retrospective of Rennie’s work titled REKOSPECTIVE: The Art of Reko Rennie and he was awarded GQ’s Artist of the Year.

For collectors of important contemporary art, ‘(Ab)Original (Blue Coat of Arms)’ is an icon – a crown jewel for the 21st century.

Reko RENNIE (1974 - )
'(Ab)Original (Blue Coat of Arms)' 2009
synthetic polymer paint on canvas
Image Size: 83 x 122 cm
Dimensions: 83 x 122 x 4 cm
Comes with Letter of Provenance
Condition:Excellent:
(c) The Artist or Assignee