Maegan Oberhardt

Fumage is the ancient art of transferring soot and carbon onto a surface from an open flame. Maegan uses this technique to produce realistic artworks of our native species. Maegan’s use of man-made fire is a commentary on the conflict between nature and humans in our modern world. Her aim is to raise public awareness of nature’s plight and to give a voice to these animals through her artwork.

Every 2 years the Art Renewal Center hosts the most difficult competition in realism with an average of 5,000+ entries across 80+ countries. Maegan has had 6 pieces in 2 competitions make it to the semi-finals, the top 40% of the world. Her beloved Gang-gang Cockatoo was published as a finalist in the top 20% and included in the collectors edition book and sent around the globe in 2022. She has had another 2 artworks make it into the finals round of the 17th International Art Salon competition in 2024 with ‘Country Love’ and ‘Pretty in Pink’ also being published in the new edition for collectors around the world. The ARC has awarded Maegan the title of ‘ARC Living Artist’ and she is the youngest among 13 Australian Artists represented internationally.

Maegan had 3 artworks included in the biggest and most global heritage project of its kind in the last 50 years - The Lunar Codex. It is a collection of 7 Time Capsules containing Art, Music, Writing and film from 254 Countries and Territories launching to the South Pole of the Moon and set to last a million years. Maegan is among 7 thousand creatives in the Polaris Archive launching September 2025.