Published on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 11:03:37 AM
Artist, Irwin Lewis born in 1939 in Morawa, Western Australia. A Yamatji, Noongar man who attended Christ Church Grammar School from 1953-1956. Irwin Graduated with honours, school prefect, Junior dux, captain of both the First XI cricket team and First XVIII Australian rules football team.
In March 1957, Irwin became the first Aboriginal student to attend the University of Western Australia (UWA).
Irwin was a talented footballer who played 75 games with Claremont FC in the West Australian Football League. He was a member of Claremont’s premiership-winning team in 1964.
Irwin commenced a career as an artist in 1989. He has been a multiple finalist in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, and a finalist in numerous other contemporary art awards.
This art piece was gifted to Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, who is the founder of Oaks Civil Construction, after losing his brother in 2013. The painting was said it represents the two Oakley brothers.
Sadly Uncle Irwin passed away on the 28th January 2020, Rest in Peace Uncle.
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