Jacob Stengle (estate)

Jacob Stengle (Karumapuli) (1954–2022) was a proud Ngarrindjeri artist and storyteller whose life and work captured both the trauma and resilience of the Stolen Generations. Born in Renmark, South Australia, to a Ngarrindjeri mother and Czech-Slovakian father, Jacob was placed in the Colebrook Home for Aboriginal children after the death of his mother when he was just three. It was here, under the influence of a superintendent who was also a painter, that Jacob first developed his passion for art — spending countless hours watching blank canvases transform into something alive, a magic he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

Jacob’s practice spanned over 45 years and a range of mediums including polymer acrylics, watercolour, ink, pastel and pencil. His work was often deeply autobiographical, depicting memories of childhood, life at Colebrook, and moments of joy, grief, survival, and search for belonging. Untrained in the academic sense, Jacob followed a more instinctual, ‘old school’ path — his approach raw and expressive, driven by intuition and memory, and finished with quiet, careful strokes, often to the sounds of classical music. His paintings reflect the two worlds he came from, always honouring his heritage and lived experience with honesty and humanity.

Jacob passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday 12 August 2022, aged just 67. I feel a deep sadness when I think of our last conversation — just a few weeks earlier we were both excitedly planning a 2023 exhibition. It never crossed my mind that we wouldn’t speak again. I have yet to meet his family, but when I do, I hope we can still realise a tribute exhibition worthy of his spirit and legacy. Jacob’s work lives on in every brushstroke — powerful, personal, and unforgettable. RIP Jacob Stengle.