Sacred Waterholes

Size & Medium

120cm x 90cm

Acrylic on stretched canvas

Description

Finalist | 2024 Malka Aboriginal Art Prize

“Sacred Waterholes” is a testament to the spiritual significance of water in Aboriginal culture.

Symbols of community represent different families gathering around the pristine waterholes of South Australia, the journeys they have taken and their profound connection to Country. Each line, each dot tells a story of resilience, tradition, and the enduring bond between each tribe and the sacred water sites that sustain them.

For generations, waterholes have served as vital gathering places for ceremonies, storytelling, and song. They are seen as portals to the Dreamtime, the mythical era when ancestral spirits shaped the land and its inhabitants.

In Aboriginal lore, water is revered as a source of life and purification, embodying the essence of creation and renewal. It is believed to possess healing properties and the power to cleanse both body and spirit. As such, waterholes are treated with utmost respect, serving as sacred sites where rituals are performed to honour the ancestors and maintain harmony with the natural world.

Out of stock

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Certificate of AuthenticityEvery original artwork by Presten Warren includes a signed and sealed Certificate of Authenticity.
This confirms the artwork is a genuine Aboriginal piece created by an Indigenous artist and documents the title, story, materials and year of creation.
MaterialsCanvas - All paintings are created on premium, double-primed 100% cotton fine-art canvas.
Paints - Presten uses professional-grade Jo Sonja acrylic paints and Chroma products to ensure long-lasting colour, durability and archival quality.
Framing - Framing is completed by a professional fine-art framer using high-quality timber, strong stretcher bars and gallery-grade construction. This ensures your artwork remains stable, secure and display-ready for many years. If you need a specific frame style or custom sizing, we can arrange this for you on request.
Framing OptionsArtworks can be delivered either:
Unstretched - Rolled canvas, ideal for international shipping or custom framing in your local area.
Stretched - Professionally stretched onto high-quality timber stretcher bars and ready to hang without an outer frame.
Framed - Fully framed by our professional fine-art framer using gallery-grade materials and a floating frame in your chosen colour. We will contact you after your purchase to help select the perfect frame. Please allow additional time for stretching/framing services.
International Shipping & DeliveryAll artworks are shipped via insured FedEx or Australia Post. Each piece is securely packaged in heavy-duty tubes or boxes to ensure safe delivery. You will receive a tracking number via email after checkout. Shipping is free within Australia. International customers often choose unstretched canvas for easier, affordable framing overseas. Please allow additional time for stretching or framing if required.
Care InstructionsKeep your artwork out of direct sunlight.
Display in a cool, dry space away from humidity.
Clean gently with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth only.
Avoid chemical cleaners or sprays, as they may damage the surface.
If storing, wrap artwork or prints in acid-free archival paper.
Do not stack artworks directly against each other.
Buy Now, Pay LaterWe offer Afterpay on all purchases up to $4,000 AUD.
Pay in four interest-free instalments at checkout.
LicensingWant to use my art within your organisation or project?
You can license an existing design or commission a new artwork tailored to your business, event or brand. Learn more here.

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Every purchase supports Aboriginal art, culture and storytelling.

100% Indigenous Owned & Operated

© Presten Warren 2026

I acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on. I extend my respects to Elders, both past, present and emerging; and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.