Brendan Keogh

Local Contemporary Art Prize 2026 – Finalist

Image courtesy of the artist.

Brendan Keogh | Aztec bloom | 2026 | oil on canvas | 79 x 79cm

In this work, I present a flowering cactus as a still life held within an ornate, Aztec-inspired vessel. I’m drawn to the tension between moody, low light and the vibrant colour and pattern of the bowl, allowing the cactus to feel both grounded and luminous. The Aztec motifs draw from my background in fashion graphic design, merging contemporary pattern-making with the tradition of oil-painted still life.