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.

Artwork

  • Jacob Stengle – Desert Camp Dreaming
  • Jacob Stengle – Dreamtime Elder (Milerum)
  • Jacob Stengle – Early Morning Dreaming
  • Jacob Stengle – Wake Up Callers
  • Jacob Stengle – Little Red Bucking Horse
  • Jacob Stengle – Stephen Ready for ANZAC March
  • Jacob Stengle – The Cricket Match
  • Jacob Stengle – The Peacemaker
  • Jacob Stengle – Job
  • Jacob Stengle – Feathers
  • Jacob Stengle – Wattle Wrestling
  • Jacob Stengle – The 9 Footer
  • Jacob Stengle – Sailor Down Wombat Hole
  • Jacob Stengle – Reef Meeting
  • Jacob Stengle – Rambos Close Shave
  • Jacob Stengle – Hitch Hiker
  • Jacob Stengle – Heading to a 9 Footer
  • Jacob Stengle – Goolwa Cockle Shuffle
  • Jacob Stengle – Firestarter
  • Jacob Stengle – Cowboys and Indians
  • Jacob Stengle – Collecting Swan Eggs
  • Jacob Stengle – Chooks
  • Jacob Stengle – Beach Encounter
  • Jacob Stengle – At Moana with Ned and But But
  • Jacob Stengle – Periwinkle Gathering
  • Jacob Stengle – Drinking I
  • Jacob Stengle – Drinking II
  • Jacob Stengle – Drinking III
  • Jacob Stengle – Drinking IV
  • Jacob Stengle – Drinking V
  • Jacob Stengle – The Bunyip
  • Jacob Stengle – Daisy Chains
  • Jacob Stengle – Life’s little disruptions
  • Jacob Stengle – Priests final walk in summer haze
  • Jacob Stengle – Summer Drink
  • Jacob Stengle – Summer cool off
  • Jacob Stengle – In fine voice for Queen and Country
  • Jacob Stengle – Nesting season (On the way to Footy)
  • Jacob Stengle – The Last Supper
  • Jacob Stengle – The settlers daughter
  • Jacob Stengle – Julie
  • Jacob Stengle – Get out of town before sunset
  • Jacob Stengle – Early arrivals to Coorong
  • Jacob Stengle – A meeting with Ned to plan the raid of Mrs Fitzgerald’s apricot tree