Did you know that your organisation can commission original artwork from artists in The Torch program? These culturally rich, contemporary pieces not only enhance your space but also support post-incarcerated Indigenous artists on their journey of healing, reconnection, and self-determination through art.

A recent standout example is the stunning piece Old Ways And New Tracks, created by Gunaikurnai artist Alfred Carter for Metro Trains Melbourne.

“This painting tells the story of movement, connection, and Country past and present. Long before the first train tracks were laid, my people followed ancient Songlines that crisscrossed the land. These were paths of purpose routes used for trade, ceremony, kinship, and storytelling. Across Narrm, what we now call Melbourne, Mobs like the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung moved across Country, meeting at special places to exchange knowledge, culture, and goods. This artwork shows that legacy.”

Each element in the work is deeply symbolic. The blue river running through the centre represents “life’s waterways that shaped the land and guided travel for generations” and the grid-like background pattern mirrors “modern infrastructure, the map-like layout of our cities, towns, and train lines.”

Alfred Carter is a proud Gunaikurnai man and a post-release artist with The Torch. He first picked up a paintbrush in 2018 and has since completed a Koori Art course at Kangan TAFE, refining his practice with support from The Torch’s dedicated Arts Officers.

In 2022, Alfred was awarded the Melbourne Rd Art & Canvas Stretching Development Award in association with The Torch’s Confined 13 exhibition. He had previously won the Melbourne Road Art & Canvas Stretching Award at The Torch’s Confined 11 exhibition in 2020. In 2025, Alfred’s handwoven rugs were featured at the Victorian First Peoples Art and Design Fair along with three other artists from The Torch.

Alfred creates art, not only to make a living, but to retain, regain, and pass on his culture.

Interested in Commissioning an artwork? Learn more about how your organisation can collaborate with an Indigenous artist from The Torch or get in touch via email artcoordinator@thetorch.org.au or call (03) 9042 1236.