Lutheran Care is excited to share that a unique piece of Aboriginal artwork visually representing our services and values is set to be unveiled across our business operations and brand collateral in the coming weeks. 

Created by young, contemporary Kalkadoon artist Jesse Sutton, the artwork is Jesse’s interpretation of Lutheran Care’s brand, values and journey, creatively designed in our corporate colours. 

Jesse comes from a family of Indigenous artists who are passionate about their culture and history and want to share that with the rest of the world through their work. He was commissioned by Lutheran Care last year and his painting is currently on display for staff and stakeholders to enjoy at Lutheran Care’s Head Office.  

Speaking about the bright, textured acrylic, Jesse provided the following explanation. 

“Lutheran Care is represented by the community symbol in the centre of the artwork and the U symbols around this represents the men and women who work at Lutheran Care,” he said. 

“The yellow and white ring around Lutheran Care’s community symbol is the sun, which represents Lutheran Care’s staff and volunteers who are caring and warm and guided by compassion. Always listening, advocating and building stronger communities where people can belong and thrive. 

“The people and U symbols around the sun represent Lutheran Care’s purpose ‘to champion those in need’ and how this creates a brighter future for all those supported by Lutheran Care. The sun’s rays continue into the background, symbolising the far-reaching effects Lutheran Care has on the people and communities they help.” 

Jesse continued to explain that the footprints throughout the piece, which travel to the centre of the artwork, represents people from all walks of life who make the journey to Lutheran Care, with the main location being a place where everyone meets for training, learning, connection and support.  

He added the community symbols and travelling lines represent the many communities large and small, near and far, who Lutheran Care has a connection to and provides support.  

“From the mountains and the dessert in the bottom right, to the waterholes, rivers and coasts in the top right, and leaves, flowers and the bush in the top left, these are some of the many diverse areas and regions around our nation, where Lutheran Care works and provides their support,” Jesse said.  

“The large flower in the top left represents the benefit to Lutheran Care’s clients, who are ‘empowered to thrive’ after receiving Lutheran Care’s support and guidance. The boomerang and community symbol in the bottom left of the painting represents the continual returning support that Lutheran Care provides for vulnerable people and communities. The kangaroo and emu footprints symbolise how through cultural awareness, reconciliation and education, Lutheran Care is always moving forwards and never backwards, just like the kangaroo and emu. 

“The large white dotted circles throughout the piece with icons in the centre represent some of the programs and areas Lutheran Care supports – Foster Care, homelessness, disability and family services. While the four yellow stars represent Lutheran Care’s values – Social Justice, Compassion, Inclusion and Commitment. 

“Finally, the handprints around the edge represent Lutheran Care’s commitment to the people they help and their commitment to their employees.” 

Lutheran Care Chief Executive Officer Rohan Feegrade said the corporate design would eventually be weaved through the fabric of the organisation, including at sites and offices, across digital assets, merchandise and marketing material.  

“We are so very thrilled to display and share this contemporary Aboriginal art piece created by Jesse for our organisation,” Mr Feegrade said.  

“This statement piece visually communicates Lutheran Care’s brand story and alignment of our values and services through the lens of stories and richness of Aboriginal culture. 

“We are continually looking at ways to embrace and walk alongside the world’s oldest continuous society and see this as just one of the many ways to acknowledge and support the presence and continuation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in corporate settings today. 

“With guidance from the artist, we look forward to integrating this artwork across our sites and sharing its narrative and imagery in our branding to reach more employees, clients and visitors in the coming months.” 

Lutheran Care’s ongoing reconciliation journey continues and as with our previous artwork created by Rachel Swan, a Pertame woman and friendly face working in our Alice Springs office, we will be calling for local First Nations artists to create a piece of art that symbolises the importance of our journey as part of our 2024-2025 Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. 

Lutheran Care’s new corporate artwork, created by talented Aboriginal artist Jesse Sutton.